A TERMINALLY ill woman from Burnham-on-Sea tied the knot at a 'fairytale' wedding which she never expected.

Mum-of-three, Claire Rutter, 37, has been been with her partner, Rob Cope, 39, for nine years and always dreamed about getting married.

The couple enjoyed a running joke about which of them should propose to the other but just three weeks ago their world was turned upside down when Claire was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

Claire, said: “We were sitting in the hospice garden, and I realised the one thing I really wanted to do was get married.”

The couple decided they wanted to make the commitment to each other and sought help from friends and family so they could organise their dream wedding.

With little time to prepare, Claire and Rob feared her hopes of a ‘fairytale wedding’ would be impossible but they found help from a number of generous people, including some unexpected sources.

Claire’s mum Katrina, brother Dave-Lee and sisters Trudy and Donna all played big roles in putting the wedding together, while a host of friends contributed money and specialist skills too.

But the wider community made big contributions as well.

The Axentis Michael Memorial Trust, a fund set up in memory of the father of Grand Pier owners Kerry and Michelle Michael, gave the couple £1,500 towards their big day, while the Batch Hotel also waived some costs and discounted other services.

Shops and jewellers offered the couple discounts on wedding rings and attire for the bride and the groom.

The pair tied the knot at the Batch Country Hotel in Lympsham on Wednesday (May 18) surrounded by their friends and family.

The happy couple said they have been overwhelmed by the ‘unbelievable generosity’ from the community.

"We were really amazed at how well it all came together.

"We were so happy with it all – it was overwhelming really,” Rob said.

The couple's daughters, Katie, 14, Florence, 2, and 18-month-old Lettie-Mae were bridesmaids at the event and Claire and Rob are making memory boxes for them to enjoy in years to come.

The boxes will include letters from Claire to the girls to be opened on landmark occasions like milestone birthdays and wedding days, and other keepsakes too.

Claire says she knows that ‘will be hard’ but said it is something she wants to do in the wake of her diagnosis, which includes tumours on many of her bones and cancer now in her liver and brain lining.

“I’m a very positive person," Claire said.

"A lot of people have been shocked by how well I’ve taken it.

“It’s about quality of life, not quantity. I just want my family and my girls to see that I have done my very best and I am not going to give up.”

Claire has returned to the hospice since the wedding, and said praised the staff for their 'fantastic' care and support.

“Before I came here, I could feel my body going – but here, that has stopped," Claire said.

"You know when your time is coming, and I don’t feel that any more. I have been able to relax.

“I don’t think enough people know about this place – it needs all the support it can get.”

Weston Hospicecare’s in-patient unit manager Jill Nash says the charity’s staff have been touched by Claire’s positivity.

“Everyone at Weston Hospicecare has been delighted to have been able to help facilitate such a special day for Claire and Rob," Jill said.

“We have supported them to ensure they had what they needed, so everything ran smoothly for them.

“Claire and Rob are a lovely couple who have touched us all. It has been a privilege and joy to share this with them, in a small way."