Arsenal star Theo Walcott has married his childhood sweetheart Melanie Slade.

They tied the knot at an Italian castle last week, reports Hello! magazine.

The Arsenal star married Melanie at the fairytale ceremony at Castello Di Vincigliata in Florence, 10 years after the couple met while Walcott was at Southampton.

Guests were asked not to bring gifts but instead to donate to the Willow Foundation, set up by Arsenal legend Bob Wilson and Macmillan Cancer Support after Melanie's sister Sarah was diagnosed with kidney cancer at 16.

Walcott invited several of his team-mates including Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey and Thomas Vermaelen.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reportedly flew in on easyJet.