NEWLYWEDS made sure their big day was one to remember, as they became the fourth generation of the groom's family to tie the knot in the same church.

Lucy Maddren and Neil Pittaway, from Brompton-on- Swale, in North Yorkshire, were married in the church at Easby Abbey - on the same day as his grandparents wed more than 80 years earlier.

Mr Pittaway's parents, Alison and Dirk, his grandparents, Joyce and Alec Thomas, and his great grandparents, Alice and Henry Garforth, all took their vows at the same altar.

Nearly 100 friends and family were at the wedding, which took place on April 19.

Alison Pittaway, of Whashton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, said: "When the wedding was being planned, we realised that it made four generations of weddings in the same church, which is lovely.

"But we didn't realise until later that Lucy and Neil were to be married on the same date as Neil's great grandparents, who married in 1922.

"It's really wonderful to have that sort of longevity and tradition in the family."

The reception too was an STABBED TO DEATH: Timothy Smith RSPCA appeal after cat shot and killed THE RSPCA is appealing for information after a cat died when it was shot by an airgun in the back garden of its home.

T3, an 18-month-old male tabby cat, was discovered by his owners, Marilyn and Wilf Caygill, in their back garden in Romanby Close, Hartlepool, on April 22.

His was lying limp and an injury in his right-hand side was oozing blood.

The couple took T3 to a veterinary surgeon, who confirmed the injury had been caused by an air rifle. Despite every effort, T3 died shortly afterwards.

The RSPCA is helping the couple track down the people responsible for T3's death.

Mrs Caygill said: "I'm absolutely devastated.

"I just can't believe anyone would want to deliberately injure an animal like this.

"We adopted T3 as a stray and gave him his unusual name as a tribute to our two previous cats, who were both called Tiger.

"He was very playful and always full of energy and we loved having him around the house.

"It's a terrible shame he's gone.

He was a lovely cat and didn't deserve such a horrific death."

RSPCA deputy chief inspector Mark Gent said: "This is a shocking case in which a domestic, friendly cat appears to have been deliberately targeted and made to suffer.

"This is just one of many irresponsible airgun-related incidents RSPCA inspectors regularly have to deal with.

"Many afflicted wild animals will hide away to die painful and lingering deaths, and air pellet entry wounds are difficult to detect by the untrained eye.

"If anyone saw, heard or knows anything about this incident, we are keen to hear from them urgently."

Anyone with information about this incident, or any incidents of animal cruelty, is asked to call the RSPCA cruelty and advice line on 0300-123-4999.

How can stabbing a man to death in an unprovoked attack be deemed good character? It's plain ludicrous Chris Smith occasion to be remembered.

Lucy, who has a passion for flowers, and her step-mother, Hilary Maddren, a wedding florist, created a floral backdrop for the event, which was held in The Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge, County Durham. The theme was an English country garden.

Lucy, who is from Stockton, is the daughter of the late Middlesbrough footballer, Willie Maddren, who died eight years ago. She was given away by her step-father, Glenn Calvert.

She and Neil were attended by three bridesmaids, a flower girl and a page boy, and spent their honeymoon in Hong Kong.