Long-serving vicar Donald Brown is making a special turnout for his last ever wedding - for the daughter of the first couple he married nearly 40 years ago.

Canon Brown, 76, is coming out of retirement to take part in the ceremony at Holy Trinity, Low Moor in June at the request of bride-to-be Alison Hollen.

Alison, 26, is the daughter of Christine and Michael Hollen who Canon Brown married at the church back on a snowy Christmas Eve, in 1966 shortly after he was appointed.

Alison, a former pupil at Buttershaw Middle and Yorkshire Martyrs schools, is now an NHS Stop Smoking advisor in Runcorn.

She said: "The vicar has retired but he was there when I was at Sunday school and I was in the church choir and we thought it would be extra special for him to be there for my wedding as well.

"He married my mum and dad as his very first wedding after he came to the church and I shall be his last."

She returns to her home parish for the wedding in June to Roy Gilfoyle, a journalist in Liverpool.

Her mum, Christine, said: "Ours was Donald's first wedding. I remember it was a lovely sunny, wintry day and it had snowed the night before and the snow had to be cleared from the path up to the church door.

"Alison wanted to be married from home in her home parish and we thought it would continue the tradition if Donald was involved.

"We asked him to take part and he said he would be delighted. He was a wonderful vicar. He was full of fun and was here for more than 30 years. He was very close to his parishioners and involved in just about everything."

The family have been in talks with the current vicar the Reverend Bob Evans about Canon Brown's role on the day itself which has yet to be finalised.

The then Reverend Brown, now 76, came to Low Moor in November 1966 from St Lawrence's Church, in Eldwick where he was curate-in-charge.

Now retired for seven years, he said: "It is a pleasure to be asked to be take part. I am always glad to see enduring marriages like Christine and Michael's.

"I have not seen Alison for quite a while as young people go their own ways and I can't think of another occasion when I have married a mother and a daughter. I probably christened Alison.

"I remember Christine and Michael's wedding well as it was my first at Holy Trinity. However I had done weddings before and the first ever is always very nerve wracking.

"My exact role this time will be decided with Bob Evans as he is in charge. I am not sure at the moment but I shall have some part."

During his time at Holy Trinity from 1966 he conducted between eight and 12 weddings a year.

He says the words and music used have become less formal - but the meaning remains the same.

"There used to be more "thee's" and "thou's" whereas the language is more up to date. There was the choice of using obey or not and more brides take that up these days.

"The music is more informal as well, there are less formal hymns and more songs because that is what children learn in school these days."

But in one aspect the generations divide has not had any changes.

He added, with a laugh: "Brides dresses can get very fancy - but I am still wearing the same garb!"