Street days: with husband Curly (Kevin Kennedy)

After the civil ceremony, conducted by a registrar from nearby West Bridgford, the couple emerged for a photocall at the tree-lined entrance to the 12-bedroom hotel.

Ms Lancashire wore a long, plain, satin ivory dress with white roses in her hair, while Mr Salmon, 44, was dressed in a black suit, blue shirt and grey tie.

The ceremony was followed by a reception in the marquee with a buffet and either a live band or a disco.

Vanda Rumney, a friend of the couple, said: "It was a very informal wedding, with mainly family on the guest list."

It was unclear if the couple's children from previous relationships were at the wedding.

Dizzy barmaid

The couple's relationship became public last autumn when BBC director of sport Mr Salmon split with his partner of 20 years, Penny Watt.

Kevin Kennedy and his wife Clare attended the ceremony

Ms Lancashire and Mr Salmon first met and became friends six years ago when she was playing Corrie's dizzy blonde barmaid Raquel and he was a top executive at Granada studios.

The mother of two left the show in 1996 and later starred in the drama "Clocking Off" for the BBC, where Mr Salmon had become controller of BBC1.

The couple decided on the venue after spotting it in the Good Hotel Guide and enjoying a romantic break there earlier in the year.

'Golden handcuffs'

The whole event cost between �20,000 to �25,000, according to the owner of Langar Hall, Imogen Skirving.

"It was a lovely afternoon. They had champagne and canapes on the lawn after the ceremony," said 64-year-old Mrs Skirving.

Guests also tucked into a buffet which included crab, salads, and - appropriately enough for the groom - salmon.

In July last year Ms Lancashire became Britain's highest-paid actress when she moved to ITV in a "golden handcuffs" deal believed to be worth �1.3m.

She recently starred in the ITV drama "The Glass", alongside John Thaw.