A couple who married behind prison bars have told of their heartbreak at having to wait another nine months before they can truly become husband and wife.

Dani Craven, 53, of Keighley, has waited more than two years to set up home with the 27-year-old she met and fell in love with in Armley jail.

Prison bosses at Rye Hill, near Rugby, where Darrell Craven is serving five years for wounding, have refused him parole. He was due out on June 21 but, earlier this month, the authorities told him he will not be free until next April. He has now lodged an appeal.

Even when he is freed Mr Craven will have to live in a hostel, possibly for up to six months, to demonstrate he has rehabilitated.

The pair married in Garth Prison, Lancashire, in the summer of 2002, after they met and fell in love when Dani - then Dani Dale - was a drama lecturer in Armley Prison, Leeds. In the past two years, their only contact has been holding hands across a table and a hug at the end of visiting once a week.

"These are most difficult circumstances but we have managed to keep strong. We are closer than ever and our relationship keeps growing," said Mrs Craven. "This news is a huge let-down."

The mother of two adult sons has driven more than 110,000 miles following her husband to different prisons.

"I only missed four visits through illness," she said. She claims he has been unable to take rehabilitation courses because he has been moved between three prisons during his sentence. "I believe they are keeping us apart because of what we did - falling in love and then getting married in prison," said Mrs Craven.

Mr Craven - a category B prisoner - has a job waiting, making articles for dolls houses when he is released.

He said: "I'm devastated - I wanted to go home and I deserve to go home. I have ticked every box and Dani has offered me a new life and family."

Their romance breached prison security rules. The couple met in Armley prison at Christmas 2000 when Mrs Craven, who had been recruited to teach social and life skills, was asked to produce a Christmas play and persuaded him to take part.

Mr Craven's Keighley lawyer, Julian White, said: "We are appealing against the Parole Board decision to refuse Mr Craven early release on licence."

A Home Office spokesman said it was not policy to discuss individual prisoners. Prisoners were allowed to seek parole halfway through a sentence and could make further applications every six months, he added.