Just 13 hours after giving birth, Cindy Buckle was walking down the aisle to exchange vows with her fiance.

Despite going into labour almost a week early, the 21-year-old was determined it wouldn't ruin her and Colin's big day.

Fewer than 10 hours after giving birth to Ella at Medway Maritime Hospital, Cindy left her hospital bed and raced to her mum's house in Cornwallis Avenue, Gillingham, to get her hair done ready for her wedding ceremony at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, at 2.30pm.

It is almost five months since Colin and Cindy's big day, and both mother and baby are doing well. Cindy has only recently spoken publicly about her race from maternity unit to wedding.

Cindy, who also has a 15-month-old son called Coel, said: "Colin and his family were staying at the King Charles Hotel in Gillingham where we had the reception. Most of them were asleep so I had to get the receptionist to get a message to Colin that I had gone in to labour.

"Everyone told me I should cancel but I wanted to go ahead with the wedding.

"When we booked it we didn't know I was pregnant. Then when we found out my due date was just days after the wedding we still decided to go ahead with it and my dressmaker altered my dress to fit around my bump.

"I was a bit tired and wobbly when I walked down the aisle but I was really happy and that kept me going."

Cindy, who moved from Medway to Liverpool two years ago, is no stranger to the Medway Messenger.

The mum of two was nominated for a Pride in Medway award by her mum Gina in 2001.

Cindy, then 14, spent a year fitting school around caring for her mum who suffered from depression and anxiety after her marriage broke down.