ROMANCE was in the air for a Redcar couple who enjoyed a prize Valentine's trip around the town in a specially-prepared Love Bus.

Jeannette Emmerson kept the surprise under wraps and persuaded her partner, Bryan Donaldson, to go along by pretending she had left her purse on the bus when she travelled to work. When they arrived at Arriva's depot on Ennis Road, on Monday, Mr Donaldson saw the balloons, flowers, chocolates and gifts laid out across the back seat.

She said: "I don't know how I managed to pull this off. He had absolutely no idea I had won the competition. Last year Bryan converted our car into a mobile restaurant and took us to Whitby followed by a trip to the theatre."

To win the trip she called the Arriva hotline. Her story from last year's Valentine's Day won the hearts of the judging panel.