THE wedding bells are ringing for a Trowbridge couple who turned their lives around after meeting through homelessness charity Breakthrough and are due to marry next Wednesday.

Ivor Piper, 68, and Lisa Parkinson, 36, have been engaged since June 2017 and are looking forwarded to declaring their love for one another.

Mr Parker turned to Breakthrough over four years ago when he was made homeless after the death of his first wife.

It was there he met Miss Parkinson, who although not homeless had turned to the charity to make new friends and also helped out with the administration.

Miss Parkinson and Mr Piper became friends at first and became a couple in 2015 after confiding in each other when Mr Piper’s wife died and Miss Parkinson was affected by the death of a cousin to whom she was very close.

The couple now live together in a flat in Clothier Leaze and Mr Piper popped the big question to his love whilst on a mini-break in Weymouth.

Miss Parkinson said: “I am a little bit nervous for the wedding but it will be my special day and it will be nice to share it with our loved ones.

“I’m not wearing a traditional wedding dress but will be wearing something which will be a surprise for Ivor.

“Both myself and Ivor have helped each other through some tough times and grievances. It is nice to have someone there for you.

“I was so surprised when he proposed to me, I was in tears.

“My mum was also so happy when I told her and we all went for celebratory drinks when we got home.”

The couple will tie the knot on Wednesday at County Hall register office. They will be sharing the day with four special guests including Miss Parkinson’s adoptive mum and her former care worker.

The newlyweds will be spending four days in Butlins, Minehead to celebrate their marriage.

Mr Parker said: “We are looking forward to our break in Butlins in Minehead.

“We will be staying in the hotel there and it will be great fun.”

Barrie Dearlove, manager at Breakthrough Trowbridge, said: “I remember when they both met at the old centre in Duke Street.

“They got to know each other and got on really well. Then little heart shapes started to fly. It’s our first wedding. People think they just come here to drink tea, but it shows that you can meet some really special people.”