A PERFORMING poetic duo tied the knot after being brought together by the rhyming word.

Award-winning dialect poets Ronald Williams and Sally James from Rossendale took their vows at the Fisherman's Retreat in Edenfield.

The 73-year-old great-grandparents, who regularly perform on the UK circuit as the 'Tin Pot Poets', met 20 years ago through the Rossendale-based Edwin Waugh Dialect Society, which was set up to promote Lancashire dialect.

But it was only six years ago that they got together after both losing their spouses.

The couple's friend Geoff Proctor, 50, said: "It was the bond of poetry that brought them together.

"They married in an absolutely beautiful spot.

"It was a fairly quiet affair because they just wanted immediate family there but they have got to 73 and have a few generations beneath them.

"For their occasion on Sunday, the couple had booked a wedding car, but were surprised when they were given a free upgrade to a Rolls Royce Phantom Elite.

"It had come straight out of the show room.

"There were a few readings of poetry at the wedding too."

The couple, who live in Edenfield have won many awards for their work, producing poems about computers, internet, growing old, being henpecked, Olympic torches, and going deaf, among other subject matter.

A love poem written by the pair was read out as part of the ceremony.

Dad-of-one Ronald, a former gardener, won the Richard Holland Cup for best poem this year,

The new Mrs Williams, a former nurse and mum-of-four, won the President`s Cup for the best poem in standard English and the Vicar Shaw Trophy for best overall entry.

She also travels the country accepting invites to perform at meetings of the Women's Institute.

The pair also create CDs of their work, donating all proceeds to the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team.

Photographer Geoff, of Kaleidoscope Imagery, who captured the poets special day on Sunday, said: "They write down-to-earth material about hard times but there is humour in it too.

"It is witty and brings out emotions in people.

"They can have an audience in hysterics or crying."

The couple have now taken a short break in the Lake District for their honeymoon.