ECSTATIC young couple Alison Kemp and Richard Nuttall are still pinching themselves after winning a dream wedding.

Alison and Richard are set to marry at top hotel before jetting off for a honeymoon in Mauritius after courtesy of Granada Television.

The couple from Bollin Drive, Congleton, scooped the fantastic prize, which is worth between £15,000 and £20,000, after winning Granada's Weding of the Year competition.

Some 10,000 viewers rang the Granada Studios on Friday evening to vote for the four finalists in the contest, with Alison and Richard winning by a massive 3,000 margin.

They were due to marry in July this year, after being together for 12 years, followed by a honeymoon in Spain.

However their superb prize has changed all that, with the couple due to tie the knot at the Victoria and Albert Hotel in Manchester in May, followed by a lavish reception and exotic island honeymoon.

Alison's wedding day hairstyle is due to be created by Andrew Collinge, the 1998 British hairdresser of the year, with her make-up by his wife Liz.

In addition the couple's wedding cake is to be designed by the person chosen to create the marriage cake for the wedding in June of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones.

''The prize is a fairytale come true for both of us,'' said Richard, aged 27, who works as a Planagear in Congleton.

''It will also see my marry the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with.''

Alison, aged 26, who works for Zeneca at Alderley Park, described the moment they were told they had won the prize.

''My voice started to shake, and Richard grabbed me really tight when it dawned on him we had won.

''I haven't been able to get any work done at Zeneca for all the people coming in to congratulate me.

''I'm truly overhwhelmed, and can't thank people enough for their support, as it was their votes which got us through.

''I am looking forward to everything about the wedding and honeymoon - it's what we have always dreamed of.''

Alison and Richard were entered in the competition by Richard's mum Judith who sent in a 200-word letter about why she thought they deserved to win.

''I wanted to give them something back to thank them for all the support they have given to me and my husband over the years,'' said Mrs Nuttall, from Orchard Way, Congleton.

Mrs Nuttall. was diagnosed with breast cancer nine years ago, and has undergone various periods of treatment for the disease, which has returned a number of times, the most recent last October.

''Alison and Richard are always there for me, and I don't know what I would have done without them.

''I had to scrape myself off the ceiling when the vote was announced, and The young couple thanked everyone who had voted for them in the TV poll, and the support they received from local businesses, including shops at the West Heath precinct, where posters were put up urging people to vote for them.

''The support we received was overwhelming, and although we know a lot of people in Congleton half our votes would have come from people who don't know us from Adam,'' said Alison.

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