A Polish mother-of-four has admitted organising four bogus weddings in Accrington and Clayton-le-Moors and taking part in one herself.

Andzelina Surmaj, 30, pleaded guilty to roles in the sham ceremonies which took place at All Saints Parish Church in Clayton-le-Moors, St Andrews Church in Accrington and Rochdale.

All the weddings involved Eastern Europeans marrying non-EU citizens, understood to be Nigerian nationals.

Appearing with co-defendant Milan Cina, 38, at Burnley Crown Court, they both pleaded guilty to five counts of assisting unlawful immigration.

Czech national Cina admitted jointly organising the four sham weddings with Surmaj and also pleaded guilty to acting as a witness at another ceremony.

Unmarried Surmaj, who has been in the UK for 12 years, also admitted giving a false address at her sham marriage at St Peter’s Church in Newbold and possessing a fake Czech Republic ID card.

Cina, of Lister Gardens, Bradford, was remanded in custody, while Surmaj, of Girlington Road, was granted conditional bail in order to make personal arrangements.

Judge Beverley Lunt told Surmaj she faced a custodial sentence of ‘some length’, while Cina was warned a prison term was ‘inevitable’.

The offences Milan Cina and Andzelina Surmaj were charged with took place between Dec 2008 and Feb 2011.

Sentencing was adjourned until March 19 at Burnley Crown Court.