IT WAS a day full of emotion as a mother lay in her hospice bed watching the wedding of her daughter alongside family and friends.

There were lots of tears and plenty of laughter as Abi Goddard married partner Kev McPherson in the Sacred Space at St Richard’s Hospice.

It was a moment mother-of-the-bride Penny Goddard, 65, from Astley near Stourport, called "very special" after the couple brought the wedding forward so Abi's mum could be part of the celebrations.

Watching the service from her hospice bed, Mrs Goddard said: “Being there at the wedding blessing was very special and it’s hard to put into words the value of that as you come to the end of your life.

"Being able to celebrate Abi’s wedding when I won’t be there in Spain was very important to us all.

"As well as celebrating the future, it was a wonderful day to capture memories for the family of us all together.”

Mrs Goddard was first diagnosed with cancer in 2012 which was followed by two successful rounds of chemotherapy.

She has spent the last month in hospital in Birmingham before being referred to St Richard’s Hospice In-patient Unit.

Staff at the hospice, based in Wildwood Drive, Worcester, helped Abi, from Cheltenham, organise the wedding at short notice.

She said: "We are due to get married in Spain next year but we really wanted mum to be part of the wedding.

"We are very grateful to everyone at St Richard’s Hospice who made this happen for us at very short notice.

"It was very special to us for mum to see us married.

“St Richard’s felt loving and caring from the moment we walked in the door for our first visit. The people who work at St Richard’s are fantastic and Mum is so happy to be here.”

The occasion was even more special as Abi’s father, Harold Goddard, from Malvern, conducted the wedding blessing.

The couple’s daughter Jessica, 18 months and niece, Amelie, were flower girls and Abi’s sister Naomi Joy was maid of honour.

Abi’s brother Peter Goddard also shared their celebrations.

St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and supports their families.