A REAL life Romeo proved his girlfriend was his true Soul-mate - when he proposed to her in the presence of her favourite actor.

Paul Normington asked Christine Fearns to marry him in front of David Soul, who was starring in the play Mack and Mabel at Darlington Civic Theatre last week.

When Mr Normington, 43, heard Miss Fearns' heart-throb was to appear in Darlington, he wrote to him and arranged for his girlfriend of three years to meet the Starsky and Hutch actor at an after-show party.

Miss Fearns, 39, ended up getting a surprise from both of them because, out of the blue, Mr Normington got down on one knee and proposed with a diamond and sapphire ring.

Mr Normington, a sales representative, said: "This is the most romantic thing I have ever done."

Staff and crew joined the pair from Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, at the party.

Mr Normington said: "David Soul was really nice; very pleasant.

"Without him being there, I would not have proposed on the night.

"He wished us all the best and wrote a paragraph in our programme."

Miss Fearns, who runs a cleaning company, said she was amazed when her boyfriend proposed.

She said: "I thought we were having a party to celebrate our anniversary. It was not until Paul got down on one knee that I realised what was happening.

"The staff and the cast were so helpful; they really made it extra special for us."

Darlington Civic Theatre worker Niki Burgham said: "We are absolutely delighted for them - their story really warms the heart."

The pair have yet to set a date for their wedding, but they want the day to be as special as their engagement was, and may get married abroad with friends and family.

Yesterday, they returned to the Civic Theatre to promote Romeo and Juliet, which opens next week.

Mr Normington said: "I might have been called a few things in my life, but never a Romeo before."

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet runs from Tuesday until Saturday, March 4. Tickets are £12 to £18, with concessions available.

To book, call the box office on (01325) 486555.