WHILE flicking through the pages of the News Shopper Michael Molloy could never have predicted he would find his future love through the Two's Company section.

Having been on his own for five years since his wife Marion of 46 years died of Parkinsons aged 89, he had given up on ever finding another partner and was contemplating spending the rest of his life as a singleton.

But one day Michael, of The Crescent, Sidcup, plucked up enough courage to ring one of the adverts in the lonely hearts section and he settled on ringing Maureen Lince from Welling.

The father-of-one said: "I had basically been on my own for 22 years because I had been my wife's carer.

"It took a lot of bravery to call Maureen.

"I have been trying to work out up to this day why I settled on Maureen's number and called her.

"I don't know why but I really do believe fate brought us together.

"My wife had given me her blessing when she died that she wanted me to find someone else to spend the rest of my life with because I like company and going out for walks and meals.

"I am sure she is looking down thinking I have made the right choice."

It took Maureen, 69, two weeks to ring Michael back after that first phone call.

He said: "When she didn't call for two weeks I thought she was never going to call back.

"But when she did return the call it was like a bombshell.

"It took me a few moments to remember which Maureen it was and then it hit me -  it was her.

"I said we should meet and we arranged to meet outside the Morrisons in Welling.

"We had told each other what we would wear so we could tell who each other was.

"At first I hung back for a while, I was a bit scared, but I liked the look of what I saw and thought I should go for it.

"We went for lunch in a cafe in Welling and then went for a walk through Danson Park and it was just amazing.

"We got on so well and then we found out we were born on the same day, May 10, and that was another coincidence that we couldn't believe.

"Although we had just met it was easy as we have the same different likes and dislikes and we are very similar."

After six months of dating Michael decided to take the relationship to the next level and propose.

He said: "I knew it was right and when you get to 77 there isn't much time to hang around.

"I proposed to Maureen when we were sitting on a bench near the old house in Danson park."

The couple are hoping to marry at Sidcup registry office on their joint birthday to mark the special day.

Michael said his daughter from his first marriage Diane is very happy for her dad and she was the first one he called after the proposal.

He added: "I would urge anyone who has been on their own for a while to pluck up the courage and ring if they are interested in someone who advertises in the Two's Company section.

"Not everyone might be as lucky as we have but even if you just break the ice and go out with someone for a couple of months, it is so worthwhile."