DOG lovers Karen Watson and Carl Sutton will tie the knot today with their canine friends attending them rather than bridesmaids and page boys.

The teenage sweethearts could not bear to leave their faithful four-legged friends behind on the big day so they decided to include them in the proceedings.

Bair, Bridget and Phoebe, three enormous Dogue de Bordeaux - the type in the film Turner and Hooch - will loyally wait for the couple to say their vows outside St Anne's Church, Fence.

Karen, 21, from Sutton-in-Craven, said: "The dogs are like a family to us. We want them at our wedding because it wouldn't be the same without them.

"We don't know any children who are the right age to be bridesmaids and the dogs mean such a lot to us."

The couple met four years ago in a nightclub and soon discovered their shared interest in dogs.

"The whole family is mad on them. Everyone thinks it's brilliant that they can be on the wedding pictures," added Karen, who is a year younger than Carl, from Fence.

But the canines are going to miss out on the wedding cake and honeymoon.

Karen, who works as a dog beautician at her mother-in-law Anne Sutton's business at New Laund Farm, Fence, said: "They won't be able to come to the reception at Reedley Squash Club as they are going home for their own dinner.

"We are going to Italy on Monday but we are not taking the dogs. We would if we could."

The couple's love of dogs runs in the family as Carl's mum Anne is an expert in the Dogue de Bordeaux breed.

The Rev Norman Howard, who is marrying the couple, said: "It is one of the more unusual requests I have had.

"I am a dog lover myself. When I was a curate in Manchester there was an old woman who brought her dog to sit behind her while she took communion."

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