CUPID was firing on all cylinders as this year's Bride of the Year was announced at the annual Bucks Free Press Wedding Fayre.

Lovebird Mark Sturgeon put forward his winning fiancee Angie Easterling, a primary school teacher, for the competition after he proposed while she was taking a class.

Debra Aspinall, who handed Angie her prizes which included a night's stay at Stoke Park Club, said: "It was a very well attended day and there were some lovely romantic stories told."

A chance meeting in High Wycombe brought Angie, from Aylesbury, and Mark together after losing touch for three years when Angie went to university.

The pair quickly rekindled their relationship and two years later Mark was on bended knee in her primary school class in front of pupils and teachers. The couple are to wed in August.

Runner-up in the competition was Carla Ashby, from Loudwater, who met her fiance and neighbour Paul Buckle after she went to complain about the noise of his television.

The couple realised they had a lot in common and started dating and just two weeks later Paul proposed. They are now saving for their July wedding.

The Bride of the Year was one of the many highlights at the wedding fair which was the most successful to date according to organiser Sue Wapshott.

More than 1,000 people turned up to the show at the Bellhouse Hotel in Beaconsfield.

She added: "We had 46 exhibitors and a big bridal fashion show. It has been running since 1992 and it keeps getting better and better. The spring season in 2002 has been the most successful ever."

Everything from limo services to photographers had displays offering brides a chance to organise all their wedding needs under one roof.

The next 2002 bridal wedding fair will be held on September 15.

For further information please contact Sue Wapshott on 01494 755042.