IT was meant to be the best day of their lives.

However, a Hampshire couple had the wedding from hell after a day that started off rain-soaked was interrupted by a visit from the police.

As Helen and Jimmy Williams, from Hedge End, arrived at the idyllic setting of one of the New Forest's most exclusive hotels ready to exchange vows, they were determined not to let the wet weather spoil their day.

Just hours later, however, they were showing police to their room - which had been the target of burglars.

While the newlyweds were settling down to their wedding breakfast with their guests at Rhinefield House Hotel, near Brockenhurst, opportunist thieves were rifling through their belongings upstairs.

The culprits stole £1,500 of the couple's cash, which was set aside to pay the band, the pianist, the DJ, the photographer and the sound engineer who, Helen said, all wanted cash on the day.

Trying to forget Administrator Helen, 28, told the Daily Echo: "I just felt sick. Someone had been in our room and gone through my bag.

"They even opened a card that was for my stepfather's birthday - luckily that had a cheque inside rather than cash so they left it."

Instead of fondly remembering their special day, Helen and 27-year-old Jimmy, a plumber, are trying to forget it. Helen said: "It was a day I would rather forget, seeming more suited to TV's Weddings From Hell than a day I can cherish.

"We will have to learn to live with it as we cannot ever have the day back. I would like to have been married somewhere I could go back to year after year but I would not feel comfortable to stay there again."

Robert Milton, general manager at Rhinefield House Hotel, said: "Every room has a safety deposit box. There is also a safe at reception. While we encourage guests to use the safe, it is down to the individual to do so.

"The suite in which Mr and Mrs Williams were staying has to be locked by a key and so, again, it is down to the individual to ensure the room is securely locked behind them.

"There was no evidence of forced entry into the room and we would like to reassure guests that security is of paramount importance at the hotel.

"We do sympathise deeply with Mr and Mrs Williams and have offered them a complimentary stay to help compensate for any distress caused by the theft."

The theft was reported to Hampshire Constabulary and police attended on February 10, the day of the wedding.

A spokesman for the force encouraged any witnesses to the incident to come forward and added: "We would never advise people to keep that amount of cash on their person unless it is absolutely necessary."

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.