IT'S HEARTS and flowers all the way for a Bolton couple who have been chosen as the North-west's 'Lovers of the Year'.

Gaynor and Guido Van Den Berg beat hundreds of other couples for the coveted Woolworths/Chat magazine title.

Their heartfelt entry described how they met on holiday in Crete. Dutchman Guido decided within three days of meeting Gaynor that he wished to spend the rest of his life with her and they wed 10 months later.

If the loving couple are chosen from eight other regional finalists as the UK's most romantic couple, they would be on course for a romantic two-week safari in Zimbabwe.

As the North-west regional winners of the annual competition, Guido and Gaynor have been presented with £500 worth of vouchers to spend on Valentine Day gifts at Woolworths. The overall winners will be announced later this month. If the couple from Bolton are successful and chosen as 'Lovers of the Year 1996' they will be invited to London where they will receive their prize from glamorous LWT gladiator 'Lightning'.

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