A COUPLE who found love through the pages of the Evening Press are to marry next month.

Joan Townsend, 60, and Eric Green, 68, from Acaster Malbis, near York, were both widowed and had resigned themselves to spending the rest of their lives alone.

But then they were persuaded by friends and family to look at our Two's Company introduction column.

Mrs Townsend reluctantly placed an advert and Mr Green reluctantly replied in March this year.

But they hit it off straight away and are now are living together in Lakeside, Acaster Malbis, and preparing to tie the knot at York Register Office on September 1.

Mrs Townsend, whose husband, Nigel, died after a long illness, said: "I had been on my own for two-and-a-half years and it's a lonely life. I did think I would be on my own for good and I didn't like it, I must admit that.

"I had a little car and I know I could have gone on trips here there and everywhere, but I just didn't go because I had no desire to.

"A friend of mine said why don't you go to one of those agencies and I said I couldn't do anything like that."

Eventually, Mrs Townsend was persuaded to place an advert and had plenty of replies.

She said: "I did see the majority of them and they just didn't appeal at all. Then Eric came onto the scene and we just hit it off straight away. I had a good husband, but I think I've got another good one this time."

The couple decided, while on a trip to York city centre, to get married and their families are thrilled for them.

Mr Green said he was indebted to the Evening Press for helping him to find happiness again after the death of his wife, Ann,last year.

He said: "We were both very lonely, but I wasn't really looking for romance. I was looking for friendship, someone to talk to. But I'm in love with her, I'm just absolutely besotted with her, she is lovely.

"If someone had told me I would be getting married in September I would have thought they were not all there.

Updated: 10:27 Saturday, August 18, 2001