A couple travelled almost 10,000 miles round the world and spent £3,000 to get married - but ended up tying the knot in Eastbourne.

Jonathan Payne and Judith Parkin's plans for a dream Caribbean wedding were wrecked three times in a fortnight by two violent hurricanes.

They fled Jamaica to escape one hurricane, only for a second to hit them in the Dominican Republic.

The couple, of Filching Road, Eastbourne, spent more than a year on preparations, making sure every aspect of their day would be just so.

They had planned to fly to Jamaica, travel to Montego Bay, meet people to act as witnesses, get married and spend a two-week honeymoon in five-star, all-inclusive luxury.

Tropical flowers were to arch round a Greek temple from where they would exchange their vows and a three-strong band would play in the background amid the warm breeze.

Their union was to come three years after they met on holiday in Tenerife - after having lost both their partners to cancer.

But from the start, ominous signs suggested all would not run smoothly.

Firstly, their flight from Heathrow on September 7 was delayed by a day.

When they finally arrived in Jamaica, they spent less than 24 hours in their hotel before being evacuated as Hurricane Ivan was just 12 hours away.

Retired teacher Mr Payne, 61, said: "After such a long flight we were so tired that we quickly went to bed. But when we woke up the following morning, everyone was packing up to leave because of Hurricane Ivan.

"We must be one of the few people to have done a day-trip to Jamaica."

Housewife Ms Parkin, 58, said: "This was going to be my dream wedding in paradise but it was not the type of holiday we were looking for."

Tour operator Thomas Cook arranged for them to be flown out of Montego Bay for a second wedding on the Dominican Republic.

After enduring a nightmare flight out of the island amid the chaos Ivan had left behind, Mr Payne and Miss Parkin thought nothing more could go wrong.

Their new hotel was lavish, with a four-poster bed, stunning views and everything a newlywed couple could wish for.

Then Hurricane Jeanne, ploughed into the island, claiming 23 lives and forcing 8,200 people - including Mr Payne and Ms Parkin - to retreat behind barricaded doors.

Mr Payne said: "In the end, we spent the night we were supposed to be getting married in our hotel room sheltering from the wind and rain outside."

When the remnants of Jeanne passed, the tour operators stoically laid on plans for a third wedding. Yet again, however, those plans were shattered when everyone was ordered off the island.

Eventually, the couple decided luck was not on their side and returned home to Eastbourne three days early unmarried.

Their only memento is an amber bracelet which Mr Payne bought for his fiancee at the Dominican airport with money set aside for flowers.

Mr Payne said: "Everything little thing that could go wrong did go wrong. We just couldn't believe it."

However, every cloud has a silver lining. Yesterday, they were preparing for a wedding at Eastbourne Town Hall on October 16.

Ms Parkin added: "Knowing our luck it'll probably rain."