A bride has had her dream wedding day fulfilled - with a little help from Suffolk Constabulary.

Stephen Whitehead, from Lakenheath, wrote to Suffolk police in May explaining that he was getting married to Deborah in July and he wanted to “make her day” by presenting her with a Suffolk police pencil.

Mr Whitehead explained that his wife to be had once told him about a memorable visit to Suffolk police headquarters back in 1990.

Aged eight, the now Mrs Whitehead wanted to become a police officer, so wrote to Suffolk police offering her services as a detective.

Her offer was declined but she was offered a tour of the police headquarters.

She said: “It was amazing, myself and my cousin were picked up in a police car, we were shown the control room, given a tour of the police museum, got to sit on a police motorcycle and in a police car and had our fingerprints taken.

“The day was one of the most exciting days of my young life and topped off with a souvenir of a Suffolk police pencil.

“It was my most prized possession, until one day on a school trip I dropped the pencil and it rolled through boards into the foundations of an Anglo Saxon house – I was devastated.”

Mrs Whitehead had recalled the story to her husband who remembered and came to Suffolk police before their big day to see if the Constabulary could help.

In an email to Suffolk police, he said: “We’re getting married in July, and I wondered if Suffolk police still use pencils and, if they do, can you tell me if there’s anyway I can get hold of one?

“It is possible that the gift of a genuine replacement Suffolk police pencil might completely overshadow our wedding day, but I think it would be worth it if such a thing were possible.

“Thank you for reading this, for taking care of the county and for having made a little girl’s day all those years ago.”

Julie Dennis, community safety assistant at Suffolk police, sent two pencils in readiness for the big day.

She said: “We were delighted that we could help Stephen, it’s such a lovely story and we are so pleased that we were able to contribute, albeit in only a small way, to the happy couple having an enjoyable wedding day.”

Fast forward to the wedding day and Stephen presented Deborah with the Suffolk Police pencil in a long velvet box.

Mrs Whitehead said: “I was stunned and delighted.

“I’ve always thought the police are a good bunch who will be there for anyone in their time of need.”