It was a love their critics believed would never last.

But Rachel Russell and Mick Edson, both pictured, proved their doubters wrong when they were married on Saturday - four years after they started their controversial relationship as schoolgirl and teacher.

They had begun an affair when Rachel babysat for chemistry teacher Mr Edson's young daughter, Rebecca.

And they made national headlines in October 1998 when Rachel, then 15, and Mr Edson, then 31, who was also her form teacher at Wyke Manor School, Bradford, ran away to London. Rachel's parents Robert and June, who have four other children, appealed for her to end the relationship and return to their home in Flawith Drive, Fagley.

But days after they eloped, they voluntarily returned to Leeds to hand themselves in to police.

Their story caused a national debate about the morals and ethics of pupil/teacher relationships. And it led Mr Edson to be charged with abduction and indecent assault.

The following August, he was cleared on both charges by a jury at Bradford Crown Court, but he resigned his post at the school in September at the request of head teacher John Fryett.

Immediately after the verdict, a delighted Rachel said: "We want to live together, get married and have lots of children. I'm sure we will live happily ever after. If two people fall in love, they fall in love. It is as simple as that."

On Saturday, their dream came true as they were married in a simple ceremony at Dewsbury Register Office in front of a handful of family and friends.

Dressed in a long light pink dress and tiara and carrying a small bouquet of pink and purple flowers, Rachel arrived shortly after noon with two toddler bridesmaids.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Edson arrived wearing a navy blue pinstripe suit and grey waistcoat and hurried in to meet his eager bride-to-be.

Half and hour later, the smiling couple appeared hand-in-hand to leave for a wedding breakfast at Scholes Social Club in the village on the outskirts of Bradford where they have a flat.

The couple, now the proud parents of a toddler daughter and who once employed PR guru Max Clifford to help sell their story to a national newspaper, would not speak as they left the register office.