A REMARKABLE twist of fate meant a betrothed couple from Denmark and England tied the knot on the very day the countries went head to head on the football field.

Matthew Reid, from Ulverston, and Amelia Atkins, from Denmark, booked their dream wedding at Urswick Church months ago, blissfully unaware the date - Wednesday July 7 - would fall on the same afternoon as the Euros semi-final.

The couple, who live in Barrow and own their own photography business, first met at university where they struck up a relationship.

Mr Reid decided to pop the question at Christmas time after a tough past year over lockdown.

"It was such a bad year, I really wanted to end on a high note," the 40-year-old said.

"My dad had died last year and I wanted to do something to move forward.

"We started planning our wedding when the roadmap was set out and booked the venue and the church."

The pair walked down the aisle at Urswick Church before their reception at the Olde Mill in Bardsea with 60 guests.

"It was amazing," Mr Reid said.

"The weather was great which meant we could do a lot outside."

However, whilst planning their big day, the unsuspecting couple had no idea it would fall on the same date as the Denmark versus England match.

Mr Reid said: "It was a complete coincidence. We only found out the week and a half before.

"We don't really follow football so we weren't too bothered about it but acknowledged the fact it is kind of a quirky, freak occurrence.

"We didn't want it to overshadow the wedding because some of the guests wanted to watch the match.

"But we had iPads out for those who wanted to watch it and moved our first dance forward so it didn't clash with kick-off time.

"We just had a laugh with it really. I had an England flag and Amelia had a Danish hat - it was a friendly rivalry.

"It was just a bizarre coincidence. The match went on so long that people were kind of past caring by the end but it definitely made the day that much more unique and memorable."