A COUPLE living in America will still go ahead with their dream wedding at a North Yorkshire chapel - six months after its doors have been officially closed.

The little Methodist chapel at Laverton, near Ripon, will be re-opened in June for one day only, just so the ceremony can take place as originally planned.

Months ago, when Adele Marston and her husband-to-be Paul Palmer, who live in Boston, USA, decided they wanted to marry there, its closure had not been announced.

But despite the last official service being held on January 20 the couple have been assured they will be able to say "I do" at the chapel in June. Miss Marston's family has strong links with the little place of worship stretching back to 1937. The bride-to-be was a former member of its Sunday school.

And any doubts about the wedding taking place there were dispelled when Methodist minister the Reverend Stuart Ellis announced the chapel would definitely be reopened to fulfil the couple's wish.

Adele's mother Sheila Marston, of Kirkby Malzeard, said: "They really did want to get married at Laverton because of the family links with the chapel, but became even more determined after looking round. We just hope that during its closure the chapel organ won't deteriorate too much." Miss Marston, who is 28 and a former pupil at Ripon Grammar School, met Paul, 27, and originally from Staines, while studying at Oxford University. She gained a degree in biochemistry, he in physics, and the pair are now doing post doctorate research.

Meanwhile Mr Ellis said because of the family's long links with the chapel he would be pleased to re-open the building for their wedding.

Chapel authorities decided it could not continue with just 10 members when congregations on some occasions dropped to as few as four.

Urgent repairs to the building and costs of a new heating system left faithful regulars with no option but to close down the chapel.