Fred Eckersley with his bride, Sujittra Seetanoi, on the front page of the Bolton Evening News

A PENSIONER who "bought" a Thai bride 40 years his junior for £5,000 travelled to his wedding in style -- on board a bus for 10 hours in searing heat!

As previously revealed in the BEN, widower Fred Eckerlsey, aged 67, from Breightmet, married his Thai bride, 27-year-old Sujittra Seetanoi, known as Apple, in a Buddhist ceremony in Thailand this week.

But first, to get there, he had to undergo the 400-mile journey on board a minibus full of his bride's family and friends in 33 degrees of heat.

The pair were introduced through a "go-between" and were were married in a civil ceremony within two days, but on Tuesday they had a full Buddhist ceremony.

Fred, who went to Bangkok several weeks ago to take up a teaching position with the Siam Language and Computer Institute, has said he will now begin the process of obtaining an English visa for his new bride.

In an e-mail to the BEN, Fred has described the preparations for the ceremony, and his experiences of the big day.

He said: "We went by minibus the day before the wedding, setting off for our destination at 10.30 am. It resembled the old Lancashire

trip to the Illuminations, stopping at various places for whisky and large amounts of canned beer.

"The bus was full of my wife's relatives, friends and acquaintances, as well as the go-between, and, most importantly, myself, the one who was footing the bill.

"It was a long and tiring journey, more than 400 miles and in a temperature of 33 degrees. We finally arrived at 8.30pm and the party had already started, beer and whisky in evidence and dishes of many kinds, including seafood, king prawns, and pork and chicken.

"The day of the wedding then arrived. I was woken at 6am and had coffee.

"I was then told that the Buddhist monks were to come at 7am so I dressed up in the suit I had with me and awaited their arrival.

"At 6.50am a solemn, single filed, shaven headed line of monks wearing orange walked in with completely expressionless faces and sat on the floor with their backs to the wall. There were eight of them.

"They laid out a piece of string so they were all connected. In front of each was an urn-like vessel into which food was placed.

"Chanting started and one of the monks scattered holy water over us. The air was pungent with incense and candles flickered in the light breeze. More food on a tray was offered by us.

"Two strings were wound around the bride and groom's right wrists and knotted.

"After more chanting, the monks filed out.

"Once the monks had departed, a second lot of chanting took place and more string wound around the couple's wrists. Much food was consumed, all washed down with beer and whisky.

"The ransom money -- my definition -- was paid. It was placed on a cloth and flower petals were scattered over it and then gathered up by the corners.

"I still feel that it is immoral for a mother to sell her daughter.

"But my wife is a beautiful woman and, since we love each other, little else matters."