HOLLYWOOD romance has mirrored a real-life love story for Ramsbottom accountant Andy Lawson.

Millions of cinemagoers in America have swooned at the latest blockbuster romance You've Got Mail, which stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as a couple who fall in love over the internet.

But single dad Andy and an American woman did it for real. And, tomorrow, Nicolette Carmeci, from New Jersey in the USA, will tie the knot with Andy at St Andrew's Church, Ramsbottom, after first meeting in cyberspace.

The story began in August 1997 when Nicki (36), then a personal assistant, was searching the internet for maps of Italy for her boss - but what she actually found was romance with divorced father-of-two Andy, who was trying out his newly installed link to the Internet at his home.

Nicki didn't hesitate leaving behind her high-flying job and the single life in New Jersey for Andy (31) and his sons, Graham (9) and Daniel (4), in Ramsbottom.

Clearly smitten with her computer "Mr Right", she said: "He is the kindest and most caring man I have ever met." Andy said: "It was a one-in-a million chance that we came to meet. She was wonderful, she showed me lots of attention and really cared about me. I had never known anything like that before."

He recalled: "I was just surfing around on the Internet when I saw Nicki's name on the section she was looking at, I introduced myself and asked how to use the Internet!"

The next day, Andy sent Nicki an e-mail and she replied. From discussing work, the couple soon started to share telephone conversations about their lives.

Nicki said: "I thought, I like this man, he is such a sweetheart. He was very kind and caring and my heart just went out to him."

She was planning a holiday in England with "the girls" in April last year, but she changed her plans and flew over alone in February for a four-day break.

A terrified Andy spent the night making his home at Moors View, spic and span and turned up at Manchester Airport at 5am to meet Nicki for the first time. He admitted: "I was shaking like a leaf."

But a more confident Nicki took him for a coffee to break the ice - and the rest is history.

Nicki returned to the States but was smitten. She said: "I was heartbroken, I cried and didn't eat for a week."

Nicki came back in April and she and her new family have been inseparable ever since. She hopes to work after the wedding and loves most things about her new home, particularly the beautiful countryside - and Tesco!

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