Raunds wedding saved after safe containing rings cracked in time for big day

A Raunds bride and groom preparing for their big day had a pre-nuptials panic after their wedding rings became trapped in their home safe.

Helen Harris-Jones and fiancé Phil Ward had locked their platinum and diamond bands away ready for their June 5 marriage, but were horrified to discover that the strong box was locked with no way to get to the valuable contents.

In their recent house move they had misplaced the spare key and the battery-powered digital keypad was rendered useless. Not only were the rings inside, but the safe also contained Helen's vital medication.

Helen said: "I couldn't believe it. I use the safe every single day and when I went to the safe to get my steroids in the morning it had been fine but by the evening it was locked.

"We had lost the override key in the house move and the batteries had gone in the safe had gone flat. I was up all night."

After scouring YouTube for ideas and solutions, the couple tried to smash their way into the safe with a hammer. After three hours they had managed to bash a very small hole in the side but couldn't retrieve the items.

The couple put out a plea on social media to the Raunds community asking for help.

Suggestions varied from the useful 'turn it upside down and bounce it on a soft surface it does generally drop the pin in them so they unlock' to the comical 'what you need is a stethoscope and a cartoon animal. They’ll crack that open in no time'.

Answering the call was father and son Carl and Kim Smith from Stanwick.

Helen said: "A lovely man helped us. He said his dad could help. He had a shed filled with every sort of tool. He used an angle grinder and it took about 15 minutes to get through.

"They were worried that the sparks might set fire to the box that the medication and the rings were in but it was OK in the end.

"It's absolutely amazing. It's nice to know that we still have the community spirit and take time out of their day to help. We are just so thankful to them."

With the rings safely salvaged the couple's happy day went ahead on Saturday June 5 without any further problems. Five-year-old daughter Sienna acted as bridesmaid at the ceremony at Thrapston's Bridge Hotel in front of 18 relatives and friends.

The new Mrs Ward said: "It was amazing. Everyone pulled together with Phil's parents and made it so special.

"It ended up being a three-day celebration - it was perfect."