With flowers tied to her three-wheeled walker, Margaret Husband walked down the aisle to marry her sweetheart.

Yesterday she and husband Bernard Brice became two of the world’s oldest newlyweds, with a combined age of 188.

Bernard, 93, tied the knot with his 95-year-old bride Margaret at St Mary’s Church, Gosforth.

About 50 guests watched on as Margaret, who was a bridesmaid when her new husband married his late wife Dorothy 66 years ago and Bernard made their vows.

The newly-married couple rekindled their friendship six years ago, when Margaret attended Dorothy’s funeral. They kept in touch and love blossomed when Margaret travelled to Cumbria to visit Bernard.

Bernard said: “I never dreamed I’d get married at this age. I never dreamed I’d be this age.

“I wasn’t nervous, I was excited. It was a good service. We’re going to enjoy the reception and then start married life in earnest.”

While Margaret said: “I feel so welcomed into Bernard’s family, we trust each other.”

BBC’s Songs of Praise was present at the service to film the unique occasion for a show set to be aired on Sunday, June 25.

Bernard’s son, Graham, 63, a retired engineer, who worked at Sellafield, was his best man while Margaret, who lived in Banbury, Oxfordshire, before moving to be with Bernard, was given away by her four sons: Brian, Mark, Steve and Rob.

The groom’s daughter, Helen Gadsby, 65, said: “It was lovely, a really nice service. I never expected to see my dad get married – he’s 93.”

Margaret entered the church with posies and ribbons tied to the handlebars of her three-wheeled walker.

Her granddaughters Holly and Megan Husband were her bridesmaids, with Eileen McDonald acting as her maid of honour.

Rob Husband, her youngest son, who walked his mother down the aisle, said: “I certainly didn’t expect to give her away. She’s been living with me for nine years and there was a list of reasons why we thought she might leave, but this wasn’t on it. I thought I would get too emotional walking down the aisle.

“We brought mum up for Bernard’s late wife’s funeral and he collared me afterwards to say he’d always had a soft spot for mum. It’s great to see them together.”

During the service, her son Brian sang Make Me a Channel of Your Peace while Reverend John Riley, who led the service, called the couple “remarkable”, adding they are “two lovely, devoted, committed people”.

I've never taken part in a service like this before

For Rev John Riley, the marriage of Bernard and Margaret was one of his most unusual ceremonies.

The Gosforth clergyman, who has been at St Mary’s Church since January 2014, has spent more than 35 years as a member of the clergy – but there’s always a surprise.

“I don’t think I’ll see this again. Over the years, you think you’ve experienced almost everything then something like this comes along,” he said.

“It has been quite an experience. I’ve been ordained for 36 years and never taken part in a service like that.”

The reverend helped organised the newly-married couple’s big day, attempting to tailor it to their preferred tastes.

He said: “They’re lovely people and they wanted a quiet wedding but I don’t think they got that. I tried to ignore the cameras and make it personal for them. I hope I achieved that.”

Although he hasn’t known the couple for long, Rev Riley is delighted he got to share their special occasion with them.

“I didn’t know Bernard until we started preparing for the wedding and I met Margaret when she moved to Cumbria,” he said.

“They’re a really lovely couple and committed Christians. It’s a great joy and a privilege to be involved.”

A wedding reception was held at Whitehaven Golf Club after the service and now the couple will settle into married life in Bernard’s sheltered home.

Bernard moved to Cumbria from the Midlands with his family in 1965, and took up employment at Pelham House School at Calderbridge, Seascale, where he worked for 30 years.

Speaking previously, he said: “Dorothy and I had married in 1950, and were together for over 60 years. She was 91 when she passed away.

“Dorothy and Margaret were best friends and remained so all that time.”

He is physically disabled after suffering a dislocated neck during a car accident.

“It was very traumatic. I was on my way to visit my late wife, who was suffering from dementia. I ended up in hospital and my son came to tell me that Dorothy had died that day,” said Bernard.

His daughter Helen thanked all the family for their help with the wedding. She also thanked photographer Alana Botwright and J Marks Hair, of Egremont.