A groom has pulled off a wedding at Darent Valley Hospital in just 24 hours after his childhood sweetheart was told her cancer is terminal.

Kevin McCarthy, 62, tied the knot with long-term partner Mandy Lucitt, 57, this afternoon on the Oak Ward at the hospital, where she has been receiving treatment.

The pair from West Kingsdown have been together for 42 years, and have made it through some difficult times.

Their son Ryan passed away from cot death in 1984, and their granddaughter Layla died in 2014 after losing a battle with leukaemia.

Since Layla’s death, Mrs McCarthy has raised more than £12,000 for several charities, including Great Ormond Street and Ellenor.

The couple had originally scheduled their wedding for the end of the month, but after they were told yesterday that Mrs McCarthy’s condition was incurable, they moved quickly to bring the nuptials forward to the very next day.

Yasmin Salem, the couple’s niece, said: “It went really, really well. A few people are still here, hanging around and telling jokes.”

She told News Shopper that people had rallied around to sort out wedding arrangements at short notice, providing balloons and flowers to decorate the room.

Stylists offered their services, styling the bride’s hair and make-up free of charge on the afternoon.

Mandy’s friends and family from Ireland even changed their flights last-minute to be able to make the rearranged wedding.

Speaking about her aunt, who is suffering from pancreatic and liver cancer, she said: “She is in really good spirits.”

Newlywed Mr McCarthy said he was desperate to move the wedding forward after they received the news of his wife’s deteriorating condition yesterday morning.

“She wanted to be married and I wanted to marry her,” he said, before calling on people to help plan the ceremony as quickly as possible.

He also praised Dartford Registry Office and Oak Ward for helping them organise the ceremony so quickly.

“They have both been brilliant,” he said.

Two years ago, Mandy tried to organise a surprise wedding for her partner on his birthday.

Unfortunately, this fell through because they were not able to meet with the registry office beforehand.

However, it did leave Mrs McCarthy with a wedding dress, and today she was finally able to wear it.

Mr McCarthy told News Shopper that his wife will be discharged from hospital tomorrow and will return home to be looked after by her family.