AN UNUSUAL dating event has been launched to help singletons in York find love.

Jet2.com held its first English/Irish speed dating experience, where 20 York men and women headed to Burbridges restaurant for a champagne lunch to meet 20 Irish singletons.

After the event – where people had just five minutes to get to know their “date” until a bell signalled it was time to move on to the next person – the Irish party caught their Jet2.com flight back to Belfast.

Any pair who fall in love and become the first couple to marry are being offered a free reception for up to 120 guests at Burbridges and a pair of return flights to Belfast.

Steve Heapy, of Jet2.com, said: “Following our inaugural Leeds to Paris speed-dating flight last year, we’re absolutely thrilled to be offering this exclusive dating experience again for any York and Irish singletons who didn’t have a successful St Valentine’s Day this year.”