Surprise party and blessing for Outwell couple's Ruby anniversary with donations instead of gifts for the British Heart Foundation

An Outwell couple enjoyed a surprise party to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and help raise money for charity.

The party at the Crown Lodge Hotel was a complete surprise for Nicola O'Shea Barnes although her husband Peter was in on the secret.

Her daughter Stephanie O'Shea Barnes even provided the dress for the event in the guise of a birthday present for her mum the day before Saturday evening's celebration.

There were over 80 guests at the party where the family asked for donations to the British Heart Foundation rather than presents as Peter had major heart surgery around three years ago and there is a strong possibility that Stephanie and her brother could have heart problems in the future, as it runs in Peter's family.

Stephanie, who was helped with the arrangements by friend Elizabeth Idle, even created a copy of the couple's original wedding cake for the event which looks set to raise hundreds of pounds for the charity.

Peter has recently managed to return to work as a long distance lorry driver after recovering from his heart problems having been unable to drive for the past couple of years because of them.

Stephanie and her daughter 10-year-old Anne-Marie both wore dresses that complemented the one given to Nicola. Also among the guests was Stephanie's 19-year-old son Christopher, and Stephanie's grandparents who are both in their nineties.

The family have set a target of £600 and have set up a Facebook Justgive page for those who would like to support the British Heart Foundation.

"It was a lovely evening, my mum was really surprised. We even organised a blessing for her and dad which was done by the Rev Anne Bossingham a Methodist minister. It was a lovely evening, the Crown Lodge were brilliant and helped keep the secret," said Stephanie.