A couple have been left devastated after the coronavirus pandemic cancelled their wedding - for a SECOND time.

Long-term sweethearts Gemma Turpin, 33 and Jake Moss, 34 were due to tie the knot on April 24 but their ceremony was postponed after the UK was put into lockdown last week – just one month before the big day.

Devastatingly, this is the second time the couple have had to postpone their nuptials - they had to cancel their wedding in 2017 when their now 10-year-old son, Jenson, contracted pneumonia.

The church offered to hold the ceremony but, in line with government advice, they said the pair could only have two witnesses at the ceremony.

However, having waited for so long already, Gemma and Jake, who have been together for 14 years, decided they would postpone to a third date next year.

When they initially made the decision to cancel again, Gemma, a primary school dinner lady and cleaner, was 'devastated'.

She said: "We couldn't believe it had happened again. I was upset because it was the second time we have had to abandon plans.

"I honestly thought, 'Is someone trying to tell us something?'

"But considering everything that is going on now, it’s a bit trivial to get upset.

"We’re just going for bigger and better next year."

Gemma and Jake, both from Leeds, have known they were meant for each other ever since they met teenagers at a local butchers – where they made pork pies.

They had been dating for ten years before Jake, who works in drainage maintenance, finally popped the question in 2016.

Gemma said: “It was a long time coming and I was waiting for him to propose.”

Their original wedding was planned for September 2017 but they had to put it back after Jenson spent eight days in hospital fighting pneumonia.

The brave lad became unwell in April 2017 and the parents took the decision to postpone their wedding as they knew he wouldn't be completely better by September.

Gemma said: "Jenson has always suffered from chest infections but this one was particularly worse than the others.

"It was upsetting to have to cancel but his health is the main priority and we’re not going to take that for granted.

"He took bad in the April and we were due to marry in September – so at least we had a bit longer to process it all, knowing we’d have to delay.

"Unlike this time where it was less than a month to go where it just sprung upon us."

Now, two-and-a-half years, lightning has struck twice. Fortunately, they have been able to get some money back.

Gemma said: "The church and the florist has refunded us and the photographer has said our booking can be moved to a new date.

"We've haven't paid the pub where we were going to have the reception yet. We could have paid £500 to have it now with two witnesses but we might as well wait and do it properly."

She added: "Every time at New Year's, you think this year is going to be your year and then it doesn’t work out like what you imagined.

"But we’ve actually been incredibly lucky because we’ve heard stories where people have lost thousands."

The couple - who had both already celebrated their stag and hen dos - are now hoping it will be third time lucky and say the cancelled weddings have actually strengthened their relationship.

Gemma added: "Going through difficult circumstances and initial disappointment does not mean you stop loving each other. I’ve loved Jake for over a decade – coronavirus has not changed that.

"It can’t be helped – that’s why I said it was trivial to get upset – considering the circumstances."