Lots of us remember having a crush on someone at school.

Most of us eventually marry someone else and forget about our teenage lust.

Love-struck classmates Anna and Gary Baker did exactly that before website Friends Reunited brought the couple together again 17 years later.

The web site gave the couple the chance to finally tell each other of the love they never revealed as pupils at Tideway School in Newhaven.

Today they are the first to get married at a new register office at the Meridian Centre in Peacehaven, close to their home in Arundel Road and yards from where they grew up.

Anna has already changed her name by deed-poll from Pope to Baker after moving in with Gary two and a half years ago.

She said: "We had been thinking of getting married for ages but it was the logistics of organising it. But being so close takes the stress out of it.

"Even so, it feels really unreal. Gary was always one of my best friends at school. He has definitely improved with age and when I saw him again I just thought wow'.

"We had our second Friends Reunited gathering in the Telscombe Tavern in Peacehaven and lots of people got drunk and stayed over at my flat.

"Gary left his car keys, came back around and stayed for a drink. I don't think he ever left the flat after that, although we have moved since then."

Friends Reunited was designed to help old school friends who have lost touch get back together. It celebrated its fifth birthday last month.

Since becoming reacquainted in February 2002, the couple, both 34, have also managed to provide Friends Reunited with its seventh baby.

Anna gave birth to Sean on Christmas Day, 2002. They have four other children between them from previous marriages.

Friends Reunited has also brought the couple back in touch with lots of other school friends. Ten of them will be at the wedding reception.

Gary said: "It's definitely surreal. We grew up in Peacehaven and now we're getting married here. We both decided we're made for each other so getting married is the right thing to do.

"We are the first ones to be married in a registry office in Peacehaven. I remember the Meridian Centre from when I was growing up so it's weird getting married there.

"Anna didn't go out with anyone at school but I certainly remember her being very pretty. She was certainly popular with all the boys."