NIGHT Fever has struck two young lovebirds at a 1970s-themed nightspot.

Dressed in the staff uniform of flares and an Afro wig, 24-year-old Kevin Forster got down on one knee to propose to his girlfriend, Madeline Watson, as the pair were due to dance to Disco Inferno at the Darlington pub.

Their eyes met across the crowded dance floor in November, when Miss Watson, 20, started work as a barmaid at Flares pub.

The couple, who work at the pub, got together after a staff dancing course.

Mr Forster said his boss and parents talked him into proposing properly, while the couple were both dressed in 1970s gear, in front of 450 staff and customers at the pub.

He said: "It was really embarrassing and I think Madeline was very embarrassed as well. We were just about to do the dance routine to Disco Inferno and I seized my chance."

The couple, who live together in Darlington, will marry in October at St Andrew's Church, Haughton, with their reception at the Coachman pub.

Mr Forster said: "One of the ex-DJs from Flares will be playing at our wedding, but I don't think we will be playing many 70s tracks - when you hear them almost every night of the week you want to get away from them at your wedding.