Firefighter gambles on dating game

By Alison Dunkerley
BBC News Online Scotland

Mr Davidson remains committed to the fire service

A firefighter who dreamed of having his own business has invested his life savings in an internet dating website.

Keith Davidson said he had no intention of leaving the fire service, even if his venture makes him a millionaire.

Mr Davidson, from Monkton in Ayrshire, has been a firefighter with the Strathclyde brigade for six years.

He claims his site, luvsurf.com, is steps ahead of rival internet dating agencies because of the unique profile-matching software.

He said: "Existing dating websites use only four or five criteria to match clients, ours uses 172 pieces of information to match people."

Mr Davidson had always wanted his own business and decided on the dating agency plan after recognising that there was a market.

He said: "You only need to look through the local paper and you see tons of lonely hearts so I thought, why not capitalise on this?

The fire service is my career, and in spite of recent difficulties and uncertainties in the job, it will take a crowbar to prise me away from it." Keith Davidson

"Even if I get 1,000 members who pay £12 a month, that will make me £12,000 a month."

But Mr Davidson said that even if his business brings him his first million, he will not leave the fire service.

He said: "The fire service is my career, and in spite of recent difficulties and uncertainties in the job, it will take a crowbar to prise me away from it."

Due to his commitments as a firefighter, Mr Davidson sought the help of an Ayrshire creative agency company called Paligap, which built the site and help manage it.

'Serious venture'

A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire Brigade said that procedures were in place for firefighters who wanted to work outside the brigade.

He said: "As long as that job does not compromise the reputation of the brigade or affect Mr Davidson's performance as a firefighter then we wish him every success with his venture."

Mr Davidson said: "When I first told my colleagues they thought it was a bit of a joke but the longer it goes on, they will hopefully realise it's a serious venture. "

Any ladies out there hoping to meet Mr Davidson on the website will be disappointed.

The 34-year-old said he was separated, but not currently looking for love.