When Shropshire Star photographer Richard Brock was asked to travel with reporter Lucy Hynes to New York to cover the Catherine Zeta Jones wedding, he didn’t have to think twice.

But when he found himself featuring on the biggest showbiz programme on US TV, he had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

Richard had travelled to the ‘Big Apple’ to help produce a series of features to get Star readers in the mood for ‘the wedding of the year’.

The pair spent the first half of the week interviewing future brides and people involved in the wedding industry, whilst the second half of the week was spent trying to capture a glimpse of the glamorous couple.

And it was at this time, that Entertainment Tonight approached Richard to interview him about the wedding.

He explained: “We were outside the Plaza Hotel waiting for the couple to make an appearance when this American TV crew just started interviewing me.

“The funny thing was, it had been really cold so I’d bought this woolly hat to keep my ears warm. I must have looked a right state!”

Richard enjoyed competing with the paparazzi for ‘Zeta’ shots but admits it was hard work.

He said: “These guys were really friendly and chatty but as soon as Catherine appeared, all the civility went out the window and it was every man for himself.”

But Richard understood why the other photographers were so fiercely competitive.

He explained: “Most of these guys are freelance and if they don’t produce the goods then they don’t get paid – it’s as easy as that.”

Although he thought it was all good fun, it’s not a style of photography that attracts Richard.

He said: “Maybe if I was a bit younger I’d be more up for it, but as it is, I’m quite happy to leave them to it!”

Richard did get a few good photos of Catherine but it wasn’t easy to get access to her.

He explained: “The security was absolutely unbelievable, once we were even asked to move from a public place because I didn’t have an NYPD press card.”

And with the newlyweds signing an exclusive deal with a glossy mag for the photo rights, no photographers were allowed anywhere near the wedding.

Richard said: “We were all forced to stay pretty far away on the actual day. There were reports going around that they’d sold the photo rights for somewhere between £1.75 million and £3 million.

“But it was an interesting experience and I’ll not forget it!”