FORTY years after walking up the aisle in a Bolton church, Tony and Sheila McNulty have done it again — at the famous St Paul's Cathedral.

Mrs McNulty secretly booked a wedding vows renewal service to coincide with a trip to London and surprised her husband at their ruby wedding anniversary.

The pair, who live in Hereford Road, Heaton, met in 1971 at a former night club in Crompton Way, before saying 'I do' at St Osmund's Church in Breightmet on January 18, 1975.

On January 27 this year, the couple showed that their love was as strong as ever at the iconic St Paul's Cathedral, where Prince Charles and Princess Diana tied the knot in 1981.

Mrs McNulty said: "I still can't get over the fact we walked up the same aisle as royalty.

"It was such a surreal but amazing day. At 11.30pm we made our way to church and met the priest before he performed a small service. It was strange having visitors coming in and out.

"We were also surprised by a friend who turned up and became our witness.

"Then we went to the chapel to renew our vows. We even had to say 'I do' again and held each other's hand. It was so special and beautiful I can't describe it."

Mrs McNulty hatched her plan before telling her husband at their party earlier this month in front of delighted family and friends, including sons Paul, aged 38, and Sean, aged 36, daughter-in-law Jamie Lomax and 14-month-old-granddaughter Layla Rose.

Mrs McNulty said: "We decided last minute to throw a party and book a short break to London.

"I had previously said to Tony I'd love to do a renewal because my sister had one. I noticed that where we were staying in London was near the cathedral so emailed them to see if there was a chance we could do it there. I was shell shocked when they got back to me to say we could.

"I kept it quiet until the party, where I said I had booked a few surprises in London — one being the renewal. Everybody gasped with shock and excitement, and Tony was over the moon."