A WOMAN with terminal cancer today fulfilled her wish of marrying her fiancé of more than 30 years at a poignant ceremony at the hospice where she is being cared for.

June Webster, 60, of Sacriston in County Durham, tied the knot with long-term partner Jim Carter, 75, at St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham, after being told of her worsening condition.

Staff at the hospice pulled out all the stops to arrange the wedding for the couple within a week, creating a makeshift aisle for the occasion and decorating the room with June’s favourite pink carnations.

They lined the corridors clapping as she made her way to join her bridegroom, in a wedding dress chosen by their daughter, Claire Carter.

Determined to walk down the aisle, June got out of a wheelchair aided by her father Albert Hockaday, who gave her away.

Following an official marriage by the registrar, the couple’s union was blessed by the Reverend Andrew Patterson.

Speaking after the wedding, June said: “I am absolutely buzzing. Jim proposed to me a few times, but I’ve always said no. You are working, you are busy, you don’t get round to it.

“I am at the end of my life now and I thought it’s the last thing me and Jim are ever going to do.

"I wanted to marry him – to show world that I do love him and he loves me. It’s the very last thing we wanted to do.”

Jim added: “We have been together for 32 years. I asked her a few times to get married, but was told it was only a bit of paper and just left it at that.

“I am very happy at the moment.”

Reverend Patterson said: “I think she’s an astonishingly courageous woman. I think that her strength and her sheer will just shines through. I am very touched to be part of her marriage.

“It has been a very poignant, but a very powerful occasion."

Hospice family support manager Julie Wells said: “The whole team has had a week to put it together. Julie has been a big part of the hospice. We were so happy to be able to do this.”

June’s 83-year-old father praised staff at the hospice saying: “I'm very proud of her. It’s awesome what they do here. I cannot speak too highly of them.”

Among those present were the bride’s son Paul Hockaday, 39, their daughter Claire, 29, their grandchildren Leah and Luke Carter, and June’s sisters Audrey Jamison and Tracey Wintrip.