Web search finds love down street

The couple went onto the worldwide web to find love...

Teacher Julie McIlroy joined an online worldwide dating service - only to find love with a man who lived just seven houses down her street.

The 46-year-old skimmed through thousands of pictures of eligible men on the internet site.

But then she spotted Allan Donnelly, 53, and was surprised to discover they both live in Cardiff and that their homes are just a few doors apart.

The couple, from Rhiwbina, are now planning their wedding next year.

Ms McIlroy, a mother-of-three, explained what happened: "I'd been a member of the online dating agency for three months when I spotted Allan's picture.

"I thought he looked nice so I sent him a message and he emailed me back.

It's an incredible co-incidence but it just goes to show that you never know where you will find love Julie McIlroy

"We started emailing for a couple of weeks and I discovered that Allan was from Cardiff.

"Then I found out we both lived in the Rhiwbina area of the city - but even that's a big place."

It was not until they spoke on the phone two weeks later that she asked where he lived and they discovered they lived in the same road.

The pair had seen each other from a distance but had never met before.

"I was totally stunned," she said.

...but then discovered they lived in the same road

"It's an incredible co-incidence but it just goes to show that you never know where you will find love.

"The dating website could have put me in touch with someone anywhere in the world.

"But happily Allan lives just a couple of hundred yards down the road."

The pair started dating and later went on holiday to Thailand and then to Cambodia and Morocco.

Amazing coincidence

Ms McIlroy said: "Things have gone from strength to strength - I couldn't be happier. Well they say love thy neighbour, don't they."

Father-of-two Mr Donnelly popped the question at a surprise birthday party he threw for his girlfriend at his home.

He said: "I had been on the dating site for a while when I hooked up with Julie.

"It was an amazing co-incidence that we live so close to each other, What were the chances of that?

"But it was my lucky day - we've got the perfect compatibility.

"She's right up my street."