WHEN Filipino nurse Ann-Margarett Rodero flew to Bolton last year, she had to leave her childhood sweetheart behind.

She kept in touch with her nurse boyfriend Harri Jadraque by telephone, racking up an expensive phone bill until, by a fortunate quirk of fate, he too landed a job at the Royal Bolton Hospital in March.

Now the pair have announced they are to marry.

The 24-year-olds will tie the knot at a simple ceremony at the register office in Merehall Street, Bolton, before going on to a reception at Dixon Green Labour Club, Mossfield Road, Farnworth -- thousands of miles from their families back home.

Only Ann-Margarett's sister, Donna-Marie Rodero, aged 25, will be in attendance since she lives in Britain, working as a nurse in Guildford, Surrey.

Ann-Margarett said: "I'm so happy. We had decided to marry in the Philippines before I came to Bolton but then it was put on hold because of the distance between us.

"Once he joined me here, though, we decided to go for it."

The pair, who first met in kindergarten, have been engaged for seven years and the marriage will take place on August 28.

They are among 38 Filipino nurses working at the Royal Bolton to ease pressure on the under-staffed hospital.

Both will join existing Filipino husband and wife team, Roal and Carmel Martin.

Roel, aged 32, works in orthopaedics, and Carmel, aged 28, in the intensive care unit.

Their employment was the first time that the Royal Bolton Hospital had taken on foreign nurses and was part of a major recruitment drive to fill 126 nursing vacancies at the hospital.

The move was expected to boost morale and ease the workload for nurses on the Bolton wards.

Ann-Margarett said: "We love it in Bolton. The people are wonderful and we have settled in well."