A SOLDIER who has served in southern Iraq embarked on a secret mission to surprise her elder sister on her wedding day.

In a cloak and dagger operation, Private Yvonne Leighton showed her skills for subterfuge as she slipped into Warrington Register Office minutes before her sister Gemma was set to tie the knot with fianc Christopher Teesdale.

As far as Gemma and her three sisters were concerned, Yvonne was still on manoeuvres with the 2 Battalion REME, which had been stationed in Basra.

Even when her boyfriend Alan Glover, himself a serving soldier in Northern Ireland, turned up for the service nothing was suspected.

But Yvonne had been given special leave by her commanding officers to return to her regimental base in Osnabruck, Germany, so she could catch a flight back for the big day.

Mum Christine Amos, of Boston Close, Culcheth, told the Guardian: "Everyone was in the dark apart from Yvonne and her boyfriend.

"It was absolutely wonderful and Gemma was really overwhelmed. They could not have asked for a better wedding present."

Grandad Walter Occleston was so taken aback by Yvonne's cunning that he contacted the Guardian in order to gain a little revenge!

He has renamed her Sneaky for managing to keep the plot under wraps for so long.

Later outside the register office the five sisters - Gemma, Yvonne, Kate, Sally and Jacqueline - were all smiles for the wedding photos.

Their dad Michael Leighton, aged 44, flew in from Norway for the ceremony.

Happy couple Gemma and Christopher, who live in Cumberland Street, Latchford, later enjoyed an evening reception at Thelwall Parish Hall.