A REGISTRAR who presided at the marriages of thousands of couples over 34 years has described her work as "the best career imaginable" as she announcement her retirement.

Sue Lewis, who has been in charge of the North Yorkshire registration service's 90 staff for the past eight years, will step down later this month.

She conducted her final ceremony this week when she married Alison Towers and Steven Burns at the Sun Pavilion, in Valley Gardens, Harrogate.

She said her job had seen her deal with many out-of-the-ordinary incidents, including when a groom appeared at a register office hoping to be married dressed in a full Disney character outfit.

She said: “I admired his originality, but had to remind him about the solemnity of the occasion and that Mickey Mouse didn't quite comply with that requirement. Apart from all else, imagine how shocking it would have been to have upstaged the bride.’’

The grandmother said the registration service had moved changed significantly during her career.

She said: “When I started the service was steadfastly operating on legislation implemented only days after Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837. Perhaps the most progressive move was introduced 20 years ago when, for the first time, couples were able to marry in a civil ceremony outside the register office in premises such as civic buildings, hotels, and stately homes.

“Another very popular reform came in 2005 when same-sex unions became legal. A further statutory responsibility placed on registrars is in conducting citizenship ceremonies, while many register offices now offer secular child naming, renewal of vows and funeral ceremonies.’’