The couple met at the festival two years ago

Liverpool's three-day Mathew Street Festival, which is the culmination of International Beatles Week, has attracted visitors from across the world.

One couple - who met at the 2001 festival - got married on Bank Holiday Monday to mark the beginning of the day's entertainment.

Paul Shedden from Halifax, West Yorkshire, and Gill Westbrook from the West Midlands, met at the Festival two years ago - and tied the knot at Liverpool town hall.

The couple, who are both Beatles fans, waved to the crowds from the town hall balcony before officially declaring the start of the last day of the festival.

Hundreds of bands from more than 20 countries including Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Australia will have played on five stages at the city's Mathew Street Festival.

'International links'

The festivities took place at Chavasse Park, Dale Street, Water Street, Castle Street and Victoria Street in the city centre.

All the bands performing at Chavasse Park on Monday are from the city - including Reece, which won a Battle of the Bands competition and has recorded their demo at Abbey Road studios.

Warren Bradley, of Liverpool City Council, said: "This is Europe's biggest free city centre music festivals and I am proud to say that it is held in Liverpool.

"The Mathew Street Festival is an event which already has international links, and we must continue to grow it and turn it into a global event as we head towards 2008."