Four people, all foreign nationals, were each jailed for two years last week after admitting trying to dupe the Rev Michael Hills, of Holy Sepulchre Church, into marrying them.

Mr Hills says he has seen at least three weddings in his churches raided by immigration officers as couples were about to tie the knot. Another five couples have been arrested as they arrived in Northampton to sort out the wedding paperwork.

The bogus weddings are typically between an illegal immigrant from Africa and a non-British EU national.

Speaking to the Chronicle & Echo, Mr Hills said sham marriages "took advantage of the church" and said vicars now had to be extra vigilant.

He said: "About a year ago we started to get lots and lots foreign weddings, particularly from Nigerian people who were marrying Eastern Europeans. Eventually what happened was the police turned up at Holy Sepulchre and arrested one couple.

"It was found their passports were false and they had also given me false bills to prove their address."

He added: "I think there are some pretty desperate people out there really. They will do anything to stay here basically. It is upsetting."

Mr Hills, who is vicar of both Holy Sepulchre and St Michael's Church, in Northampton, said changes may be needed inside the Church to clamp down on sham couples.

Traditionally the Church has checked the validity of marriages by asking the parish congregation on three successive Sundays and then again on the marriage day if they know of "any lawful impediment" why a couple cannot be married.

However, Mr Hills said: "It is very difficult to do that now, especially in towns when people don't know each other as they used to. We are not equipped to say whether a passport or a household bill is false or not.

Asked about the two year sentences handed down on Friday, he added: "I think it is fair enough.

"They are taking advantage of the system. If they are going to come and tell lies they are going to have to face the consequences, especially if they are telling lies to the church."

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