MONTHS of planning and thousands of pounds had gone into the forthcoming nuptials of Marie Gallimore and fiancé Dean Pollitt.

The couple booked their wedding venue last August and were counting down the days until their big day on October 18.

But last week they received a call from the hotel where they were due to wed informing them the room they had booked was no longer available due to health and safety regulations.

Marie, who is eight months pregnant, says she is devastated and has had to find another venue with just two months to go.

“We had booked a large room because we have a lot of friends and family but they said we could no longer have that because of health and safety,” said Marie, who lives on Shakerley Drive, Tyldesley, with Dean and her two daughters Gabby,15, and Sienna, six.

“They instead offered us a different area but I was concerned that not everyone we had invited would fit in. I understand the reason they have given but I am still devastated.”

Marie and Dean, both 37, booked their wedding when the hotel, based at Leigh Sports Village, was still a Park Inn, but the hotel has since changed management.

Marie, a customer service operative at E-on, and Dean, an HGV driver, have since booked a new venue in Worsley but have had to move the wedding date.

A hotel spokesman said: “We have been advised by the fire brigade that the wedding that was booked through Park Inn breached health and safety regulations because tables would be put in front of fire exits for it.

"We are not prepared to put any guests, including the wedding party, at risk so we offered her a different area of the hotel. She was not happy with this and chose to cancel the wedding. Her deposit is being refunded.”