BRIDE-TO-BE Jane Russell, who has been meticulously planning her wedding for months, was left distraught when she received an email saying she could no longer have her reception at the Black Swan in Devizes as tenants John and Florence Chapman are leaving.

Ms Russell and fiancé Rob Todd, who is serving in the Royal Navy, had booked all 13 rooms at the inn as well as their reception and had planned to stay for three nights.

This week brewery Wadworth confirmed that Mr Chapman had given notice and would be leaving in October but said after being contacted by Ms Russell the area manager had tried to persuade him to still host the reception but he refused.

Ms Russell said: "Our wedding is happening on September 30 and we have found out that they are not leaving until towards the end of October. they obviously just can't be bothered to hold our event.

"We feel so let down and really don't know what we are going to do. We have sent out invitations to 120 people and they are coming from far and wide including France.

"People have booked rooms at all the hotels in the town including The Castle, The Bear and The Peppermill and because there is another wedding that day at The Bear there are no rooms left.

"We are having our ceremony at the town hall and I wanted everyone to be able to walk from there to the Black Swan. I really wanted to be able to stay at the place where the reception was being held so I could host and welcome people on the different days of our stay.

"I now feel so let down and really don't know what we are going to do."

The couple, who live in Surrey, fell in love with the Black Swan after a stay in December. Ms Russell said: "One of my best friends lives in Devizes and we like the fact it has military links."

The Chapmans took over the pub in October 2015 and spent money creating an outside bar and making other internal improvements while Wadworth paid for a major facelift of the outside.

Wadworth said that as the pub is a tenanted house it was not involved in any of the wedding arrangements but had made possible suggestions for other venues. A spokesman said: "We have every sympathy for the couple."

Mr Chapman said: "I do not believe a full contract had been negotiated with the couple. They came back making extra demands. There was no contract so we can't be in breech of it."

Wadworth said it would be marketing the Black Swan as soon as possible and hoped a new permanent tenant would be found quickly. If not it is likely a temporary tenancy agreement will be put in place.