Sweethearts reunited by agency

A pair of childhood sweethearts who were separated for 15 years are planning to marry after being reunited by a dating agency.

James Ryman and Karen Gardner used to flash messages to each other with torces when they were children.

But the pair were separated when Miss Gardner left their home town of Tonbridge in Kent to nurse in London.

However, they got back together by chance when they both signed up for the same dating agency in Maidstone.

We are absolutely delighted

Tina Wallace, Avenues dating agency

Mr Ryman said the pair had been childhood friends who knew each other because their homes were next door.

"From the age of 11 onwards we started to notice each other and we started to send each other messages across the garden by torch at night," he said.

Miss Gardner, 28, moved away to London to train to be a nurse and then spent five years travelling the world - but moved back to the Kent town recently.

Mr Ryman, 30, who works at a car parts store, said she was the third person he was introduced to by the dating agency.

"I phoned her and we spent 45 minutes on the phone," he said.

Marriage proposal

"She gathered who I was because we came from the same town - but then we decided to meet up and it went from there."

Mr Ryman said the wedding is set for 18 October next year.

Tina Wallace, from Avenues, said it was great news that one of their couples had decided to marry.

"We are absolutely delighted," she said. "It's lovely."