BRIDE-TO-BE Nikki Cross was greeted with a surprise as she returned to Southend Airport from her hen weekend in Spain.

Fiancés and dads of the girls in the party were waiting at the airport for 28-year-old Nikki and her ladies to get back from Malaga, but not because they had missed them.

The six men, who had been on a stag weekend to Portugal, were suited and booted and held signs saying “Glad you’re back, washing needs doing!”

The bride’s sister and maid of honour, Linzi Cross, said none of the 14 women on the hen party had any idea what the boys had planned.

She said: “It was absolutely hilarious and we couldn’t stop laughing. We came out in dribs and drabs and then Nikki came through last and couldn’t believe her eyes.”

Groom Simon Sholl, who will be tying the knot with Nikki on June 21, is holding the first of the signs while father of the bride Wayne Cross stood at the other end.

Linzi said the men weren’t joking about the washing. She said: “There was loads of washing. And guess what I’m doing today!”