IT wasn’t an average morning at work for hairdresser Amanda Brooke.

The 26-year-old was stunned this morning (December 22) when boyfriend Stephen Palfrey burst into the salon to propose to her...via the County Gazette.

Today, we ran a story on page five titled ‘Amanda: will you marry me?’ following Stephen’s request to propose to his girlfriend via the local paper.

And at 9am, the construction worker dashed into Hair Associates, Taunton, to show her the page and ask her to marry him.

Amanda, originally from Hemyock, but lives in Milverton with Stephen, said: “I had absolutely no idea.

"It’s the perfect Christmas present; it’s absolutely brilliant.”

The couple were entered into the ‘Win Your Wedding’ competition by a friend earlier this month, but Stephen withdrew so he could give Amanda the perfect surprise in the paper.

“When he wasn’t keen on the ‘Win Your Wedding’ I thought he didn’t want to marry me – I was so cross with him all week,” a teary Amanda added.

The pair met when Stephen was getting his hair cut by Amanda in the County Walk salon.

They have since been together 16 months and are expecting a second child. Stephen, 32, said: “I’m a very happy man right now.

“It’s been an interesting few weeks trying to keep what I’ve been getting up to quiet. It’s difficult; I’ve been making up excuses!”

He added that he hadn’t thought of a date for the wedding and joked: “One step at a time!”

**A MILVERTON man is hoping to give an early Christmas present to a special someone this year as he proposes to his girlfriend in the County Gazette.

Stephen Palfrey, 32, and Amanda Brooke, 26, from Hemyock, were entered into the 'Win Your Wedding' competition by a friend earlier this month.

But Stephen withdrew from the competition so that he can give his partner the perfect Christmas surprise in this week's paper.

He said: “Amanda is a very lovely, bubbly and friendly person. She is my soul-mate and the love of my life.

“Amanda Brooke...will you marry me.”

The couple have been together for 16 months and have a one-year-old boy called Rudi. Amanda is also expecting their second child.

The couple, who now live in Milverton, met when Stephen had his hair cut at Hair Associates in Taunton, where Amanda works, and he said it was love at first sight.

He added: “This is going to be a massive shock for her and I think she will probably just cry.

Stephen, who runs his own construction firm, attended Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe and Amanda was a former pupil at Courtfields Community School in Wellington.

He said it has been difficult to keep the secret safe after the couple's appearance in last week's paper, adding: “She saw the photo last week so it has been a topic of conversation I've been trying to avoid.

“It has been an interesting week - but it will be worth it to see her face today when I surprise her!”