A HEREFORDSHIRE horse racing star returned to the village of her birth to tie the knot today.

Hollie Doyle, of Ivington, near Leominster, married fellow jockey Tom Marquand in a small ceremony at the village church.

Villagers turned out to offer their congratulations, and children from the nearby primary school were allowed out of lessons to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.

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A surprise was laid on for the newlyweds as they left the church when an inflatable horse was led past the wedding party by a jockey decked in the same colour silks that Hollie herself had made history in when she ride on horse Trueshan.

Hollie is a champion flat racer and set a new record for winners ridden in a British season by a female jockey in 2019.

The following year, she came fourth in the Flat Jockeys Championship, which was the highest result for a woman to date.

She came third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in 2020, and was also named The Sunday Times sportswoman of the year.

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Ivington resident and family friend Paul Laight said: "Hollie is an absolute star but she is also incredibly down to earth and humble"

"She is still exactly the same girl who was born and raised here and went to school here."

"Everyone in the village is incredibly proud of her and everything that she has achieved"