Actress Jill Halfpenny tied the knot with actor Craig Conway this weekend in a fairytale wedding in the centre of Newcastle.

The couple, who have been together for five years, had a traditional ceremony at St Andrew's Church, Newgate Street, watched by about 100 family and friends.

Large crowds gathered outside the church to congratulate the happy couple and it took them more than half an hour to reach a white Hackney cab filled with red cushions, which whisked them off to the reception.

The couple went on to St Dominics Hall in the city centre, choosing bangers and mash as their wedding feast.

Former Byker Grove and EastEnders star Jill, 31, wore an ivory satin, empire-line dress, encrusted in pearl detail, while Craig wore a navy three-piece suit with black cravat.

The guests, who left the church in two old-fashioned double decker buses, included Jill's co-star in BBC's Waterloo Road, Angela Griffin, as well as actor and film-maker Phil Hoffman, who was one of Craig's three best men.

He said: "The wedding was lovely, really lovely. Everyone had a fantastic day. It was a really big, family day for them."

South Shields-born Craig said: "We are the two happiest people in Newcastle and it's just great to be back home."

The down-to-earth couple first met when they starred in a stage version of George Orwell's 1984 at the Newcastle Playhouse five years ago.

They lived in East London for several years, but returned to the North-East just before Christmas to set up home in Stocksfield, Northumberland.

Craig, who will soon jet off to South Africa to film North-East director Neil Marshall's new movie Doomsday, added: "We both love London and will miss it, but we want to be closer to our family and friends.

"It's a lovely house, with a big garden and, one day, it will be nice to fill it with mini versions of us."

The couple recently got the opportunity to work together again during six hectic weeks as the stars of Jack and the Beanstalk at Newcastle's Theatre Royal.

As well as starring in EastEnders and Byker Grove, Jill was crowned Champion of Champions in BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing show alongside professional dance partner Darren Bennett.