COUPLES-TO-BE are being urged to embrace the community spirit to help them save cash during the recession.

Volunteers at Hornby Institute are hosting a competition asking loved-up couples to write 300 words on how they met to be in with a chance of winning the historic village venue for free.

The couple with the most romantic description will be able to host their wedding reception at the institute, which volunteer Alison Armstrong, of the Lancaster venue, believes would be the icing on the cake.

“This is the perfect place for people on a budget to get married and it is in the heart of the community. The theme of the competition is ‘romance in time of recession’ and I think that having it at the institute, which was built as a gift for the community, would be a wonderful setting.

“It is a beautiful village in a beautiful place and people bend over backwards to make it a great day for the couple as there is great community spirit here and it is like stepping back in time.”

The institute was built in 1919 and is used by local groups and hosts the farmers’ market.

The competition opened on October 1 and runs until February 14.

Anyone wanting to enter should email manager@hornbycrc.co.uk