A soldier's honeymoon was cut short after he was called in to drive a Green Goddess the day after his wedding.

Gunner Stuart Callander, 27, who serves with the 129th Battery, 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, had planned to spend a romantic weekend in Perth, Scotland, following his wedding in Edinburgh.

He had even booked the hotel where he and his new wife Fiona, 24, would spend their first night of wedded bliss.

But the Edinburgh couple's plans were scuppered when he was told to report for duty in the Chester-le-Street, County Durham, the day after tying the knot.

Understanding wife

Gunner Callender found himself back at the Territorial Army Centre.

He said: "We organised the wedding about six months ago and we had been hearing things about a strike but we weren't sure if it was going ahead.

"I was trained to drive a Green Goddess just before the strike started as they trained the whole battery as drivers or firefighters. I was really hoping the strike wouldn't go ahead."

Gunner Callender said his wife, who he met five years ago, was disappointed about missing her honeymoon.

He said: "Fiona wasn't happy but she understands. It's just the way it is."