LOVED up couples could soon get married at an Italian restaurant in the county.

La Fontana, in East Hanney, already caters for wedding parties but has now applied for a licence to conduct civil marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations.

The family-run restaurant, that has served the village and the surrounding area for decades, expanded last year to add a new bar area to boost its facilities for weddings.

The Merola family, who own the restaurant, now want to be able to provide the full marriage experience for happy couples across Oxfordshire.

The county council has also received a similar application for ceremonies at 17th century stately home Newington House.

The South Oxfordshire country house, again currently hosts wedding parties, but has also applied to carry out civil weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.

The family home is set in 40 acres of stunning grounds and although there is a parish church nearby the venue could soon conduct its own ceremonies.

Earlier this year the Oxford Mail revealed that the number of Church of England weddings in the county had dropped by 16 per cent over the past five years - from 2,710 in 2011 to 2,260 in 2016.

In the same period the number of civil ceremonies carried out by Oxfordshire Registration Service rose steadily.

A consultation on the two venues wedding plans will run until August 10 and can be found at consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk