Villagers turned out to see the stars of TV and film among the guests at the wedding of former Dr Who star Billie Piper to fellow actor Laurence Fox.

About 300 well-wishers lined the pavement around the Parish Church of St Mary's at Easebourne, near Midhurst, West Sussex.

The wedding, at lunchtime yesterday, took place about half a mile from the celebrity couple's £750,000 home in Midhurst.

The 25-year-old bride, wearing a low-cut ivory wedding dress with a black coat draped over her shoulders, was five minutes early for the ceremony conducted by the vicar, the Rev Derek Welsman.

She was accompanied by four bridesmaids wearing short purple dresses.

The groom, 29, walked to the church from the White Horse pub past the crowd of onlookers and photographers.

Among the 150 guests were relatives from Fox's acting dynasty family, including his father and uncle, James and Edward.

But the biggest cheer was for Doctor Who star David Tennant, dressed for the occasion in a burgundy velvet suit, who waved to the crowd lining the road.

Kevin Whately, the groom's co-star in the TV show Lewis, was also on the guest list along with Lucy Davis, who played Dawn in the BBC sitcom The Office.

Whately said afterwards: "The service was lovely and very uplifting."

Billie's former husband, radio and TV star Chris Evans, was also among the guests.

The guests arrived in four coaches which parked at the back of the church in Petworth Road. The happy couple left the church, decorated with sprigs of flowers attached to the pews as well as grand bouquets of pink lilies, after a 50-minute ceremony.

They were accompanied by the vicar, who embraced the groom and kissed the bride before the couple got into a silver Bentley and were driven to a reception at one of Chris Evans' pubs.

Among the crowds was villager Katt Nkosi, 18, who waited three hours to see the wedding party pass by.

Katt said: "I have been a fan of Billie's since she was a singer so I wanted to see her. I think she is really nice. I am hoping to see some celebrities as well."

Charlotte O'Hegarty, 19, said: "People in the village have been quite excited. It has been the talk of the town.

"Some people are not happy with the paparazzi but generally the couple are really popular. Billie seems really down to earth."

Helena Judfield, also from the village, said: "A lot of people don't know who she is, particularly the older ones.

"Some of the time people are grumbling about all the fuss but we wish them all the best of luck in their new life together."

Sarah Phillips, 18, of Lodsworth, near Petworth, said Billie had been in the local pub the night before her wedding and had told customers she felt quite nervous.

She said: "When she got out of the car she looked a bit scared. I don't think she was expecting all these people.

She did look very pretty."

Sylvia Oakley drove 30 miles from her home in Fleet, Hampshire, to see the wedding.

She said: "I am glad I made the effort. I thought the bride looked lovely."

rachel.wareing @theargus.co.uk