Policeman Dean Maskell wanted the world to know he was in love, writes David Horne.

And though every motorist passing the roundabout near the Sainsbury store at Kidlington saw his message - "Georgina, I love you. Will you marry me?" - he forgot to sign it, leaving drivers to wonder who he could possibly be.

But now the secret is out, thanks to a colleague who saw Dean's romantic poster pictured in the Oxford Mail on Christmas Eve.

Dean, who is based at Kidlington, has fallen head over heels with Georgina Gwyn-Smith.

And his dream came true when he popped the question and she replied, "I will."

"Other people put up posters about their birthdays. I just wanted the world to know I was in love," said Dean, from Long Hanborough. "It's been a bit of a whirlwind. We met on November 8 when we were shopping in Sainsbury's supermarket."

The couple, who have both previously been married, have fixed a provisional date for their wedding at an Oxfordshire hotel in June.

Georgina, of Brasenose Drive, Kidlington, and her lovestruck policeman will exchange engagement rings on New Year's Eve - at a table for two at a local Chinese restaurant.

Story date: Thursday 30 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.