BRIDE-to-be Patricia Graham had spent months organising her wedding.

The ceremony was booked, the wedding cake made and all the guests invited.

And nothing was going to stop Patricia from attending. Not even the serious illness she suffered days before her wedding.

She was adamant that despite being diagnosed with an abscess on her brain, she would get to the ceremony on time.

And turn up she did... accompanied by an emergency medical team.

Patricia walked down the aisle escorted by a team of nurses who watched her every step of the way.

The medical team mingled with the guests and carried a drip containing antibiotics to ensure Patricia enjoyed her big day.

Three days before the wedding the grandmother-of-three was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where she was put on a drip and medication to reduce the swelling to her brain.

Doctors initially told devastated Patricia that she would not be able to attend her wedding at the Last Drop Hotel, which she had been planning for several months.

But the persistent 55-year-old author was adamant that her big day would not be ruined, and Patricia told doctors that she would be married no matter what.

Even the groom-to-be Charles Senior told Patricia that the planned ceremony was not as important as her health. But the bride was undaunted.

So staff nurse Linda Parker made arrangements for a medical team to accompany her.

Patricia was only told on the morning of the wedding that she would be allowed to attend - attached to a drip with nurses alongside her. She was collected from the hospital by a limousine as planned, before having her hair done, and travelling to her mother's house in Astley Bridge to put on her wedding dress.

She became nauseous during the ceremony, and was so ill that IT consultant Charles had to say vows on behalf of Patricia. But she did manage to utter "I do," as close friends, family and a nurse looked on.

Following the ceremony, the party moved on to the hotel's Mimosa Suite for the reception, where Patricia was reconnected to the drip, aided by nursing staff, who stayed for the duration.

The mother-of-two, who grew up in Horwich before moving to Cheshire, said: "I was devastated when I discovered that my dream day may not go ahead.

"The staff at the hospital and the rapid response unit were absolutely amazing. They really were my angels that day."