A couple who tied the knot in Falmouth, shunned five star luxury on an exotic island in favour of a honeymoon at the local Travelodge in Newquay.

Mike Sampson and Michelle Green were not counting the pennies, though, but keen to hark back to the first time they met, which was at a Travelodge in Birmingham three years ago.

Builder Mike, 50, and hospital secretary, Michelle, 47, were both away on business when they met. They had started chatting over breakfast while at the hotel on business.

Their initial conversation over a traditional English breakfast turned into a three courtship. Both had been married before and had both honeymooned in Majorca first time round.

During their courtship, the pair had stayed in 14 Travelodge hotels around the country so after marrying at Falmouth Register Office, it seemed appropriate that they head off on a 25 mile road trip to honeymoon at the newly refurbished Newquay seafront Travelodge.

Mike said: “We could have afforded to go to the Seychelles or Paris if we wanted but it didn't appeal to us. I appreciate a Travelodge may not seem like the most romantic place for a honeymoon but it's perfect for us.”

The couple's favourite Travelodge? Exeter services on the M5 because it has “a real family feel to it.”