London’s free daily newspaper Metro gave its readers a chance to win the cover one day this week – so a gay fan of the paper used the unique opportunity to make a romantic proposal.

“To my darling Ben Daniel Collins – Will you marry me? Lots of Love, Jon Mark Ireland,” read the especially-designed Metro front page (pictured).

Ireland, 27, has been with partner Collins for five years, and was keen for his proposal to make a splash – but he worried his beloved wouldn’t see the paper, as available copies disappear quickly each day.

“On the train, this guy was reading it in front of me,” Collins tells Metro.

“Then I saw my name and I thought ‘what?’ I sort of blinked twice, then I’m looking around for a Metro – I gave up my seat to try to find one.

“When I found one and saw the front cover properly it was a shock – and as soon as I got above ground again at Marble Arch I had five or six missed calls on my phone from people asking if I’d seen it.”

Collins’ answer to Ireland? A resounding yes!

Same-sex couples in the UK cannot actually legally marry but can hold a ‘Civil Partnership’ which involves the same legal rights as marriage.