A BRIDE-TO-BE rose to the occasion when she was surprised with a hen party that went the extra mile.

Keen runner Sarah Nuttall from Callands, who will marry 33-year-old Stuart Garside next month, practised running up the aisle when she put her best foot forward to complete the Blackpool 10k.

But her typical running attire was confiscated and instead the 31-year-old, who is a member of Warrington Running Club (WRC), wore a wedding dress to run the race.

While her white frock was enough to make her stand out from the crowd, around 30 members of WRC turned up to show their support for the blushing bride.

The group of runners also turned their back on the typical running gear for a more formal option.

Sarah, who discovered her love of running after completing the Manchester 10k in 2013, said: "It was hilarious. I knew we were going to Blackpool but they were plotting behind my back.

"I did not know how extreme they would go.

"Both the men and women dressed up. They went all out with wigs and accessories.

"We went into McDonalds for breakfast and we were getting some strange looks. It was very funny"

The group completed the race side by side, all crossing over the finish line together - this decision to stick together made the day all the more special for Sarah.

She added: "You normally run races like this to try to get a personal best but it wasn't like that.

"We even had a water fight on the way round."

WRC was founded in 2012 and, since applying to be affiliated with UK Athletics just over a year ago, the club has gone from strength to strength and now has 200 members.

Committee member Dave Yates said: "Sarah Nuttall is one of our longest serving members at Warrington Running Club and a year ago when she announced she was engaged, a plot was hatched to have a running related hen do for her, which was open to all our members.

"She was not aware until the day of the Blackpool 10k race."