MOST Yarmouth holidaymakers return home with a stick of rock and sand in their shoes - but Ipswich woman Anne Jeffries came back with a new fianc�!

MOST Yarmouth holidaymakers return home with a stick of rock and sand in their shoes - but Ipswich woman Anne Jeffries came back with a new fianc�!

The 55-year-old widow is today making wedding arrangements after meeting, falling in love with and getting engaged to Birmingham man Ron Hopkins during a week's break in the seaside town.

The whirlwind holiday romance began when the duo met during dinner at the hotel at which they were both staying.

It wasn't long before the loved-up couple were completely smitten, spending the rest of their stay at the Norfolk resort by each other's side.

And with the end of their vacation looming, Mr Hopkins made his move, dropping down on one knee and asking for his new sweetheart's hand in marriage.

A delighted Mr Hopkins, who has never had a girlfriend, said: “I was sitting down for a meal and I saw Anne.

“I thought 'she looks like a lovely lady'. I asked her how she was and things went on from there.

“I came here for a week's holiday and never thought I would find the love of my life. I feel marvellous - I am happier than I have ever been in my entire life.”

Describing his romantic proposal, Mr Hopkins said: “I asked 'do you love me?'. She replied, 'yes'. I said, “do you trust me?” She said, “yes”, and then I said 'in that case will you marry me?' and she said 'yes'.

The couple plan to marry in Gorleston register office next June and hope to hold their wedding reception in Yarmouth's Furzedown Hotel.

Mr Hopkins is also making arrangements to move in to his fianc�'s home, in La Salle Close.

Mrs Jeffries, a former school caretaker who has been married twice and was widowed earlier in the year, still had a big smile on her face as she showed off her sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

She said: “He is a total gentleman. He won't let me carry any bags and he cares for me so much. What more could a woman want? He is Mr Wonderful.”

Staff at the Winchester Hotel in Yarmouth where the couple met were shocked when Mr Hopkins and Mrs Jeffries told them they were engaged and enquired as to the whereabouts of the nearest register office.

Owner Greg Haddon said: “They are people who came to Yarmouth for a holiday and hit it off.

“It was a bit bizarre and a new experience for us but we are very, very pleased for them and wish them all the very best.”

Did you propose to your partner in unusual circumstances? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Tom Cruise proposed to Katie Holmes at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris in June 2005 after dating for just a few months.

Melanie Brown aka Scary Spice married Stephen Belafonte in June 2007 in Las Vegas, after dating for just a few months.