A BISHOP flew several hundred miles and postponed an important convention to witness his brother's North-East wedding.

Edward, Pentecostal Bishop of Ghana, flew from his African home to see his brother, Franck Abaya, and Deborah Wheatley tie the knot at the Bethany Church, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, yesterday.

The bishop had to postpone an Easter Monday Christian convention in Ghana, which usually attracts 3,000 people.

At the church, he took a back pew as a guest, along with Mr Abaya's 26 natural and adoptive brothers and sisters.

The bride, a Spennymoor pharmacist, met Mr Abaya, from Togo, when she went to look around a ship which was being sent by a religious organisation to provide dental treatment in disadvantaged areas of the world.

Deborah's father, Ernie, said: "She met Franck, who is a top marine engineer on one of these ships. It was love at first sight.

The couple got engaged just two days after they met.

They had planned to get married in December, but Mr Abaya's visa did not arrive in time, so the wedding was rearranged for Easter.