Two brides get police escort to Southampton wedding venue after coach breaks down near Hedge End

Jemma, 35, and Sian Batchelor-Thomas, 36, were travelling from Shirrell Heath in Hampshire when the coach carrying them and 20 guests broke down near Hedge End. Credit: PA Media

Two brides had a wedding to remember when they were given a lift to the service by police after their coach broke down.

Jemma, 35, and Sian Batchelor-Thomas, 36, were travelling from Shirrell Heath in Hampshire when the coach carrying them and 20 guests broke down near Hedge End.

As the couple started to panic that they would miss their time slot for the service, a friend managed to wave down a police car and the officers offered to drive the brides to the service at Westgate Hall in Southampton.

Jemma, a youth worker, said: “We announced to our guests that we had broken down and they immediately thought we were joking, ‘Pull the other one, yeah sure we’ve broken down’.

“We were like ‘No, honestly we have’ and I started to panic and my now-wife was very calm, she’s a nurse and used to dealing with crisis situations and we all got off the coach.”

Sian and Jemma Batchelor-Thomas with police officers after catching a lift in a police car to their wedding Credit: left

She said that all the family members started to arrange taxis and for friends to pick them up but they were running out of time to get to the service in time.

She continued: “The police were just passing by and one of our close friends stopped them and said “Would you possibly be able to take two brides to their wedding?’

“They said ‘Yeah ok then, we will help you guys out’, so everyone else was waiting for Ubers and lifts.

“A couple called Mark and Tash, they very kindly offered to take the witnesses and Sian’s mum just out of the kindness of their heart.

“And everyone did manage to get there in time, just.”

The brides say it wasn’t what they expected on their wedding day, but it definitely gave them something to remember Credit: Family handout/PA

She added: “It really was amazing, we really didn’t expect them to be so open to transporting but they were really lovely, really professional, kept us calm.

“We had a really pleasant experience but just not the one we hoped for. It’s a bit different to what we expected.”

PCSO Rachel Barry and PC Lucy Stoneley of the Hedge End Neighbourhood Policing Team, posted on Facebook: “We wish them all the best for a very happy future together and are very happy that we could be there to help.”

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…