Half-ton bear takes on best man role

Naturalist Casey Anderson may have been tying the knot with a Hollywood actress, but it was his best man Brutus - an eight-foot tall grizzly bear - who undoubtedly stole the show.

It is not known whether the half-ton beast attended the stag do, but he certainly caused a stir among guests on the big day as Mr Anderson exchanged vows with 36-year-old Missi Pyle.

The groom admitted to thinking long and hard about who should be his second in command during the ceremony, but having hand-raised Brutus since he was a cub, there was only ever likely to be one candidate.

Mr Anderson explained: "He doesn't want to hurt the people that he loves and I think he does love me after all the years and time we have spent together. He's my best friend."

The sight of the giant grizzly happily tucking into his fill of wedding cake might have been somewhat bizarre for guests, but it is not the only surreal ceremony to have taken place recently.

Earlier this month, a couple from Devon kitted themselves out in full Shrek costumes to tie the knot as a tribute to the box office smash.