Richella Heekin and Ben Marlow had been planning a trip to Las Vegas and only realised their booking error when they turned up at Birmingham airport in England earlier this year.

Fortunately, Virgin Atlantic stepped in to offer the couple free flights from Manchester to Las Vegas, as well as five nights accommodation in the city.

Now the couple are going to turn their US trip next month into a twin centre by also visiting Birmingham, Alabama, for three days. Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) will be hosting them for their stay and organising a range of activities.

Tom Cosby, a retired businessman, has helped to organise the couple’s trip from Las Vegas to Alabama.

He said: “Birmingham, Alabama, is in the midst of an astonishing rebirth, so this is a great time for Richella and Ben to visit us.

“We could not have put this trip together without the generosity of our local attractions and restaurants, along with an outpouring of help from stalwart donors.”