HEREFORDSHIRE’s “last romantic” came up with a perfect proposal for his girlfriend 1,000ft above the Black Mountains.

Days before their 10th anniversary, Chris Knapton surprised Lisa Jenkins with a romantic plane ride over the Herefordshire countryside the couple grew up in.

However, the surprise wasn’t over as they headed towards the Welsh border.

When the four-seater aircraft banked over the ‘Cat’s Back’, written below them in 5m-long white lettering were the words “Lisa marry me?”

“It was so special, it was a dream way of asking the question,” said Mr Knapton, who the Shobdon Aeroclub described as “the last romantic” when he let the pilot in on his plan.

“Lisa hadn’t clicked, then she saw this white spot in the distance, and as we got closer she burst into tears of joy.”

But Mr Knapton’s perfect plans very nearly didn’t work out.

Having booked the plane two months in advance, he woke on Saturday morning to overcast skies and cloud cover that would block the view to ground. Then around lunchtime, the sun came out.

“It was a bit of divine intervention,” he said. “The clouds parted and the sun shone through. I couldn’t have hoped for any more.”

A marketing man for a Rotherwas firm, Mr Knapton confessed he always likes to “make a bit of a splash” when he does things.

Having spent much of his childhood in Longtown, he said he always wanted to incorporate the dramatic setting into his proposal.

After coming up with his plan, he recruited a small group of friends to help lay out the design, and make sure it stayed in place – and they could be seen waving to the happy couple from the ground on Saturday.

The pair, who live together in Hereford, then told the rest of their friends and family at a party later that evening.

Mr Knapton said: “There were a lot of oooohs and aaaahs from the women – and I was getting a few scowls from their partners, who I think may have been getting a bit of stick about it themselves.”

He added that they intend to “enjoy their engagement” for a bit before planning the wedding – which, if the proposal is anything to go by, should be a pretty spectacular affair.