A couple whose romance blossomed despite a distance of 3,250 miles were being married in Preston today.

Tony Fawl, 39, fell for Siberian Ekaterina Kourteyeva after the pair developed a friendship on the Internet.

They met face-to-face for the first time in Moscow last year – and two days later Tony had popped the question.

More than 50 guests from all over the world were guests at the ceremony at Preston’s Register Office today.

Tony said: “I fell madly in love as soon as I saw her and knew she was the woman I was going to marry.”

The extraordinary cyber-romance started after Tony, from Preston, created his own spoof science fiction website.

One of the many people to visit the site was Ekaterina, or Katie, as Tony calls her.

The pair instantly struck up a friendship and kept in regular contact through an Internet chat room.

And it was not long before Cupid’s arrow found its target even in cyberspace and the couple decided they should meet in person.

They chose a midway point between their two homes in Siberia and Preston and a nervous Tony, an economic development consultant, found himself on a flight to Moscow.

He said: “I knew I was going to ask her to marry me and two days later I got down on one knee in the middle of Red Square and asked the question.

“I was delighted when she said yes.”

Katie, 24, travelled to England last October and the couple started to plan the wedding.

Internet pals from America, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden were due to attend today’s ceremony, as well as Katie’s family from Siberia.

Blackpool-born Tony said: “I knew I would meet a lot of friends over the Internet but not a wife!”

“When you make friends on the Internet it is a bit of fun. You have a laugh and exchange ideas but you do not expect to meet anyone in person.”

The couple will live in England.