A new bride has thanked the kindness of locals in Middleton after her bridal party ended up in a muddy stream when a wooden bridge collapsed under them in Cork.

Yvonne O’Leary’s wedding to Michael Hickey was almost ruined when the bridge gave way as the group posed for photos at the Middleton Heritage Park.

The 10 strong bridal party were standing on the footbridge when it collapsed suddenly, sending them all into the stream that runs next to the Jameson Heritage Centre.

“All we heard was a ‘crack’. Then almost everyone ended up in the water,” recalled Yvonne’s sister Jackie.

Panic ensued with Yvonne’s champagne coloured dress left soaking wet and destroyed for the big day.

A few phone calls to local businesses did the trick however with Ria Burgoyne of ‘Say I Do’ wedding boutique and the staff at Coakley’s Menswear coming to the rescue.

They kitted the wedding party out with new clothes and the day was saved while local beauticians and hairdressers also played their part in the rescue act.

“I just cannot put into words how grateful we are,” said Jackie.

“We were all left speechless by the kindness and generosity of the people of Middleton. They saved the day for Yvonne and Michael.”