A COUPLE who cancelled their wedding after a Newport steel plant left 300 people redundant are overjoyed after receiving offers of free services from local companies.

Shaun Halpin, 25, of Mendalgief Road, Newport, lost his job just days before Christmas when Alphasteel went into administration.

The father-of-two and fiance Nathalie Lelliott, 26, were distraught after they were forced to scrap their July wedding at the Celtic Manor because they could no longer afford it.

But within days of the story running in the Argus, offers have come in from a number of companies wishing to help the young couple out.

BM Video and Photography Productions have offered a free video and photography package worth £1,200, and Classic Cakes will provide them with a three tier wedding cake, free of charge.

Newport County is offering their DJ and hall for use and the couple are in discussions with the Celtic Manor to see if they can offer any support.

Miss Lelliott said: "It's absolutely fantastic, I can't believe how generous people have been, they don't have to do anything.

"We still really want to get married and are hoping to still have it in July if we can.

"You all have your dreams, we've planned it for so long.

"Shaun and I didn't have much for Christmas but we have a four-year-old and a two-year-old who had an excellent time because they're too young to know what's going on.

"So long as the kids had a good time it doesn't matter really but we hope the new year will bring something better for us."

Matthew Redman, of BM Video and Photography Productions, said: "We read about the story in the Argus and were disappointed they had had to cancel their wedding, especially at Christmas time.

"We wanted to make a good will gesture."