A disabled woman who defied the odds to exchange vows with her partner and become Britain's first married couple with Down's syndrome has died aged 45. Andrea and her husband Paul defied the odds - and social workers - to marry one another in 2004. The childhood sweethearts met in a home for children with learning difficulties and after falling in love as teenagers they fought a long battle to be allowed to marry. Disabled Andrea Annear, 45, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, has died aged 45. She and her husband made history in 2004 when they became Britain's first married couple with Down's syndrome (pictured) When the Daily Mail interviewed them in 2006, Andrea, then aged 37,  said: 'I love Paul this much. Now he is my husband I am so proud. 'I give him a kiss in the morning when he leaves for work, and I shout after him 'I love you, Paul' and he says 'I love you, Andrea', and I watch him as he walks all the way down the road. 'I know that some people say we should not have got married, but why not? We love each other very much and we look after each other.' Andrea had a known heart condition related to her disability, and the couple relied on a daily carer to check that they are coping with domestic tasks - but other than that, they were much like any other married couple. The couple (pictured) met in a home for children with learning difficulties when Andrea was just three . Andrea was just three years old when she was sent to live at the Ormerod Children's Home in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. Paul, who had been raised in a foster home, arrived at Ormerod when he was 13, when his elderly foster mother was unable to cope. They became fast friends and eventually fell in love, but in 1996 Andrea was re-housed in a secure community house, while Paul remained at Ormerod, which had been turned into an adult centre. While social workers were pleased with the move - with her high-functioning Down's syndrome, Andrea was able to take a part-time job at a local hotel - no one realised she was missing Paul. Andrea said: 'I missed him. I heard music and I wanted to dance with him. If I felt sad inside my heart, there was no one to make me laugh any more. 'I wanted to see my friend, so I asked my carer if I could invite him over for tea, and she said yes. I was so excited and I chose some special biscuits.' After arrangements by social workers caring for the pair Paul was driven to Andrea's house for a three-hour visit. The couple battled against the odds to continue to see each other and eventually said they wanted to marry . When the front door opened they fell into each other's arms - much to the astonishment of onlookers. Some local authorities have been known to make disabled couples perform a capacity assessment to determine whether they are sufficiently able to have sexual relations and get married without a high risk of abuse or exploitation. But Section 1 of the Mental Capacity Act says a person must be assumed to have capacity until it is established that they do not. Disabled people often have to fight the assumption that because they have a learning disability they lack the capacity to marry or to have sexual relations . Mencap's chief executive, Jan Tregelles, said last year: 'For someone with a learning disability to have their right to marry so seriously interfered with is not only heartbreaking for the couple and their families, but a denial of their basic human rights. 'Professionals and wider society are too quick to make prejudiced and ill-informed judgments about what people with a learning disability can and can't do.' Sexual health charity FPA ran a campaign a few years ago to highlight the rights of people with learning disabilities to have relationships. The fight for the right to marry is part of a wider battle for people with learning disabilities to have a family. Carer Eve Millar said: 'It suddenly became obvious just how much they had missed each other. 'Andrea was so thrilled to see Paul - she took him by the hand and led him to her little sitting room, and they were both so happy. 'They had always been inseparable at the children's home - and suddenly here they were, together again and loving every moment. Without each other, they existed. Together, they just shone.' The couple battled against the odds  to continue to see each other and eventually said they wanted to marry. Their wish stunned social workers who worried about the implications of such a marriage, the possible pregnancy and whether the couple could understand the meaning and legality of their vows. Initially a compromise was reached and the couple received a blessing in 1995. But for Andrea and Paul this was not enough. The committed Christians, who went to church every week, wanted a church ceremony with all the trimmings. They  were over the age of consent and social workers and the Trust staff were finally forced to relent. Andrea said at the time: 'Paul asked me to marry him and I told him yes. I cried -  some big fat tears went down my face because I was so happy. 'Paul got down on his knee and said: 'Will you marry me?' and I said: 'Yes.' I loved him so much I could actually feel it inside my heart. I had seen pictures of ladies getting married, in magazines, and I wanted to look like that, too. 'I wanted to have a pretty white dress, and I wanted Paul to have a smart suit and I wanted to be with him always. That is what marriage means — to love somebody and to be with them always.' Andrea said: 'I am just a normal wife and Paul is just my normal husband. That's all we've ever wanted to be' Andrea was given anti pregnancy injections because her weak heart might not have coped with childbirth and the couple saved up for gold rings,wedding dress and suit. Their wedding was held on September 24, 2004 with the blessing of the Church and the authorities at the United Reform Church at St Annes on Sea,Lancashire. Sue Sharples, then director of the Trust said:'Their were many barriers put ibn their way but their love for each other was so obvious but the birth control was needed to protect Andrea's heart.' MP Mark Menzies, a Trust patron said: 'I was very sad to hear of the death of Andrea she was a well known figure in the town. 'They were the first couple with Downs to marry in this country and were inseparable in their time together.This is a difficult time for Paul and my thoughts are with him.' Andrea told the Mail in 2006: 'We love being Mr and Mrs together. I make Paul a meal in the evening and we sit on the sofa next to each other. We love to watch Coronation Street or Doctor Who. 'We look at our wedding album every day and the pictures make us smile. If it is sunny, we go for walks and we hold hands. Or Paul plays his music and we dance and tell each other jokes.' She added: 'I am just a normal wife and Paul is just my normal husband. That's all we've ever wanted to be.' Carol Boys, CEO of the Down’s Syndrome Association, said: 'We were so sorry to hear the sad news of Andrea's death. 'This was such an inspirational story of true love triumphing over all and it paved the way for so many others to follow. All our thoughts are with Paul and the family at this very difficult time.'
Andrea and Paul Annear became first married couple with the disability .
Mrs Annear has tragically died of heart failure related to her disability .
Pair met in home for children with learning difficulties when she was three .
They became fast friends and eventually fell in love as teenagers .
They battled the odds to be together and eventually married in 2004 .
She said: 'I am just a normal wife and Paul is just my normal husband'
A disabled woman who defied the odds to exchange vows with her partner and become Britain's first married couple with Down's syndrome has died aged 45. Andrea and her husband Paul defied the odds - and social workers - to marry one another in 2004. The childhood sweethearts met in a home for children with learning difficulties and after falling in love as teenagers they fought a long battle to be allowed to marry. Disabled Andrea Annear, 45, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, has died aged 45. She and her husband made history in 2004 when they became Britain's first married couple with Down's syndrome (pictured) When the Daily Mail interviewed them in 2006, Andrea, then aged 37,  said: 'I love Paul this much. Now he is my husband I am so proud. 'I give him a kiss in the morning when he leaves for work, and I shout after him 'I love you, Paul' and he says 'I love you, Andrea', and I watch him as he walks all the way down the road. 'I know that some people say we should not have got married, but why not? We love each other very much and we look after each other.' Andrea had a known heart condition related to her disability, and the couple relied on a daily carer to check that they are coping with domestic tasks - but other than that, they were much like any other married couple. The couple (pictured) met in a home for children with learning difficulties when Andrea was just three . Andrea was just three years old when she was sent to live at the Ormerod Children's Home in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. Paul, who had been raised in a foster home, arrived at Ormerod when he was 13, when his elderly foster mother was unable to cope. They became fast friends and eventually fell in love, but in 1996 Andrea was re-housed in a secure community house, while Paul remained at Ormerod, which had been turned into an adult centre. While social workers were pleased with the move - with her high-functioning Down's syndrome, Andrea was able to take a part-time job at a local hotel - no one realised she was missing Paul. Andrea said: 'I missed him. I heard music and I wanted to dance with him. If I felt sad inside my heart, there was no one to make me laugh any more. 'I wanted to see my friend, so I asked my carer if I could invite him over for tea, and she said yes. I was so excited and I chose some special biscuits.' After arrangements by social workers caring for the pair Paul was driven to Andrea's house for a three-hour visit. The couple battled against the odds to continue to see each other and eventually said they wanted to marry . When the front door opened they fell into each other's arms - much to the astonishment of onlookers. Some local authorities have been known to make disabled couples perform a capacity assessment to determine whether they are sufficiently able to have sexual relations and get married without a high risk of abuse or exploitation. But Section 1 of the Mental Capacity Act says a person must be assumed to have capacity until it is established that they do not. Disabled people often have to fight the assumption that because they have a learning disability they lack the capacity to marry or to have sexual relations . Mencap's chief executive, Jan Tregelles, said last year: 'For someone with a learning disability to have their right to marry so seriously interfered with is not only heartbreaking for the couple and their families, but a denial of their basic human rights. 'Professionals and wider society are too quick to make prejudiced and ill-informed judgments about what people with a learning disability can and can't do.' Sexual health charity FPA ran a campaign a few years ago to highlight the rights of people with learning disabilities to have relationships. The fight for the right to marry is part of a wider battle for people with learning disabilities to have a family. Carer Eve Millar said: 'It suddenly became obvious just how much they had missed each other. 'Andrea was so thrilled to see Paul - she took him by the hand and led him to her little sitting room, and they were both so happy. 'They had always been inseparable at the children's home - and suddenly here they were, together again and loving every moment. Without each other, they existed. Together, they just shone.' The couple battled against the odds  to continue to see each other and eventually said they wanted to marry. Their wish stunned social workers who worried about the implications of such a marriage, the possible pregnancy and whether the couple could understand the meaning and legality of their vows. Initially a compromise was reached and the couple received a blessing in 1995. But for Andrea and Paul this was not enough. The committed Christians, who went to church every week, wanted a church ceremony with all the trimmings. They  were over the age of consent and social workers and the Trust staff were finally forced to relent. Andrea said at the time: 'Paul asked me to marry him and I told him yes. I cried -  some big fat tears went down my face because I was so happy. 'Paul got down on his knee and said: 'Will you marry me?' and I said: 'Yes.' I loved him so much I could actually feel it inside my heart. I had seen pictures of ladies getting married, in magazines, and I wanted to look like that, too. 'I wanted to have a pretty white dress, and I wanted Paul to have a smart suit and I wanted to be with him always. That is what marriage means — to love somebody and to be with them always.' Andrea said: 'I am just a normal wife and Paul is just my normal husband. That's all we've ever wanted to be' Andrea was given anti pregnancy injections because her weak heart might not have coped with childbirth and the couple saved up for gold rings,wedding dress and suit. Their wedding was held on September 24, 2004 with the blessing of the Church and the authorities at the United Reform Church at St Annes on Sea,Lancashire. Sue Sharples, then director of the Trust said:'Their were many barriers put ibn their way but their love for each other was so obvious but the birth control was needed to protect Andrea's heart.' MP Mark Menzies, a Trust patron said: 'I was very sad to hear of the death of Andrea she was a well known figure in the town. 'They were the first couple with Downs to marry in this country and were inseparable in their time together.This is a difficult time for Paul and my thoughts are with him.' Andrea told the Mail in 2006: 'We love being Mr and Mrs together. I make Paul a meal in the evening and we sit on the sofa next to each other. We love to watch Coronation Street or Doctor Who. 'We look at our wedding album every day and the pictures make us smile. If it is sunny, we go for walks and we hold hands. Or Paul plays his music and we dance and tell each other jokes.' She added: 'I am just a normal wife and Paul is just my normal husband. That's all we've ever wanted to be.' Carol Boys, CEO of the Down’s Syndrome Association, said: 'We were so sorry to hear the sad news of Andrea's death. 'This was such an inspirational story of true love triumphing over all and it paved the way for so many others to follow. All our thoughts are with Paul and the family at this very difficult time.'
married couple with Down's syndrome has died aged falling in love as teenagers they fought a long 2004 when they became Britain's first married related to her disability, and the couple relied couple (pictured) met in a home for children with learning difficulties when Andrea was just three . Andrea was just three years old when she was unable to cope. They became fast friends and eventually fell in love, but in 1996 Andrea was The couple battled against the odds  to continue them always.' Andrea said: 'I am just a normal wife and Paul is just my normal husband. That's