ROMANTIC Richard Leach picked the perfect moment to propose to girlfriend Jane Arends.

He booked a ride on the Dalesman steam train on the famous Settle-Carlisle Railway and popped the question as they passed over the majestic Ribblehead Viaduct.

"I thought all of the fuss on the train was because everyone was waiting to see the viaduct," said Jane. "But then Bob, the manager, made the announcement Mr Leach had something very important to say. Richard then began to propose and held out the ring, telling me I was his best friend and that he did not want to spend another day apart.

"There was an audience in the carriage, all clapping, and I was completely overwhelmed. I looked at the tears in his eyes and was totally shocked but bursting with happiness. Of course, I said 'yes' right there over the viaduct."

The couple used to work together, running a water ski school in the Lake District, but went their separate ways after the business closed when speed restrictions were introduced on Windermere.

However, they got back together last year after a mutual friend was injured in a wake board accident.

"It sparked off our first conversation in ten years," said Jane. "Within six months, I was full-time step-mum to his son, Samuel, and my two older children [Jacob, 21, doing his masters degree at Royal Holloway University, and Claudia, 18, studying neuroscience at Kings College, London] are thrilled to have Richard back in their lives as he was a fantastic role model to them growing up."

The couple, who live in Giggleswick and plan to marry at Christmas 2016, have promised to take the same Dalesman trip each year to celebrate their anniversary.