Love was in the air in Millport for a visitor who popped the big question on Kames Bay — with a romantic proposal drawn into the sand!

Claire Walker was astonished to see the message written on the beach as she and her boyfriend Jamie Henderson walked along the shore.

Jamie then got down on one knee and asked her to marry him during their visit to the island on Friday 3 April.

There had to be some meticulous planning on Jamie’s part to make sure everything ran smoothly before he asked the big question - and once again, the Isle of Cumbrae rallied round in support!

Jamie, 36, of Kilmarnock, explained: “Millport is special for us because I’m pretty sure that’s where I knew Claire was the lady for me.

“I knew it would have been too much of a nightmare to try to get over there in the morning to write a message in the sand and get back to Kilmarnock, so I looked for a Millport internet forum and that’s where I contacted Charles Kelly who said it would be not a problem.

Charles arranged for former island bookie John Burtt to assist on the day, and Jamie even checked the tides on his phone and found that about 3pm was a good time.

Jamie said: “We drove out to Largs, had a coffee at Nardini’s and before we got on the ferry and I messaged John to let him know we were on our way. John and his two grandchildren Conor, 13, and Leo, 10, wrote a lovely message in the sand saying “Claire will u marry me - luv Jamie”.

“They had been guarding the message all morning, making sure nobody stepped on it and he told me as soon as I got off the bus and walked straight in front of the wooden bus shelter and they had some colourful items in front of the message to keep us walking in the right direction.

“As we got off the bus, straight away I could see the marker that John and the boys put down and started making a beeline towards it.

.It was then Claire saw the message and I got down on one knee and proposed with a ring.

She thankfully said‘yes’and it has to be one of my happiest days of my life . It’s all thanks to Charles, John and his grandchildren.

“John came overwith his grandchildren and it was nice to finally meet him, he congratulated Claire andmyself and took us up for some tea and biscuits at his lovely house where we met his wife. It’s such a lovely wee town with a great community spirit.

Claire, 34, said:“It was lovely - a really nice and sweet surprise. As we started to walk along the beach, Jamie started laughing, and I asked‘what is going on?’, and then I turned and read the message in the sand, and he got down on one knee and asked me tomarry him. It was lovely - I said yes - and had a hug and kiss on the beach. I was totally stunned, and really happy!

“I kept saying that I didn’t understand howhe had managed to do it, as we had come across on the ferry and I had been with him all morning! He laughed and we looked back and then we saw John and his two grandsons and they gave us a wave - and John then revealed that hewas in on the plan!

“He and his two grandsons had been down on the beach writing it on the sand, and making it look good. There was even a cute wee loveheart with the the letters J and C and decoratedwith pebbles and shells.

“Maybe we might come and get married in Millport -we haven’t pinned down a venue as yet!”