Cupid pulled back his bow in Britain's marriage mecca as couples said "I do" on the most romantic date of the year.

Twenty-six newlyweds started their new lives together after services in Gretna and Gretna Green yesterday.

They were drawn the love towns by the tradition of the runaways as they exchanged vows over the traditional blacksmith's anvil at various venues.

And they came from far and wide, including a couple who embarked on a 450-mile 10-hour train journey to the romantic borderlands.

They had travelled from one of the most southern points in the entire United Kingdom - Penzance in Cornwall.

Michael Just, 56, and Gemma Just, 35 explained why they chose Gretna to get married.

"It's all about the tradition of the place and we wanted to not make a big deal of our wedding day.

"We decided to go away for our wedding and that Gretna was the way to go."

Getting together in 2004, the couple waited 14 years to finally tie the knot, with the ceremony taking place at Gretna Hall Hotel.

However, they insisted they didn't feel any different to before they were married.

Describing the proposal in 2004, Gemma said: "I was happy. It is quite a long time ago now.

"Five months ago we decided it was time to finally get married."

We bumped into one couple who were just about to get married, who had come without guests.

Lisa Cope and Jason Stewart from Leicester, married at the Old Blacksmith's Shop.

They explained why they chose to get married in Gretna on Valentine's Day.

They said: "For the history really, and Valentine's Day is the perfect day to get married - it's more romantic."

Lisa explains the moment Jason proposed to her last June.

"He asked me to put the kettle on and that he had got me a present.

"Turns out it was a ring and he asked me to marry him!"

Another couple had travelled all the way from Suffolk to the Old Blacksmith's Shop to declare their love.

David and Wendy Evans had been together for 11 months, before they decided to take the next step in their relationship.

Wendy said: "When you know it's right, you know it's right.

"Everybody knows the Gretna history, different people had recommended it to us.

"The wedding was amazing, everyone made you feel so welcome, so valued.

"I would do it all again right now."

Karen Docwra, 54 and Andy Skiffington, 52 of Swindon had also made a long trip to get married.

"The tradition is what we are going for. We thought coming here was quite a nice place to get married," said Andy, an Army officer who is about to retire.

"There's a mystique about the place. It was nice to come up and have a nice ceremony, rather than just going to a registry office.

"It is more intimate."

Gretna Green Ltd hosted 17 weddings yesterday and operations manager at Gretna Hall - one of their seven wedding venues - Vicky Briody explained why people come to Gretna to get married.

"It is all the history, the romance of running away," she said.

"It has such a lovely story, with all the weddings that have happened over the years.

"It is a shame you can't run away now, but a lot of people don't tell family and friends about their wedding - they buy into the Gretna story."