Marcus Wastell's girlfriend has certainly made a lasting impression - in 1in-high letters on his back.

The romantic engineer decided he needed something a little different to top his St Valentine's Day effort last year.

So he opted for a tattoo rather than a bunch of roses which, unlike the ink, would only wilt with time.

Marcus said: "Most people think it's a silly thing to do but it's a sign of my devotion. Everyone keeps asking me what will happen if we split up but they didn't say that to us when we bought a house together and that's a much bigger commitment."

The 36-year-old, who lives with his fiancee, Eve Gerhold, in Hurstpierpoint, said going through the pain of getting the tattoo at the base of his spine was the only way he could think of bettering their previous Valentine effort.

Then, he sneaked into Eve's office to put flowers on her desk before whisking her off for a meal at The Strand in Brighton, where he went down on one knee in front of the entire restaurant to propose.

Marcus said: "I thought of how I could top that this year. I came up with the idea of getting the tattoo because my friend Paul is a tattooist and offered to do it for me as a favour.

"I just wanted to show Eve I love her madly and can't wait to marry her."

Marcus had planned to keep the tattoo a secret until St Valentine's Day but Eve found out early while giving him a hug.

She said: "I think he's mad but I love the tattoo. I didn't have a clue he was thinking about getting it. He is very romantic and always buys me flowers. For Christmas I got the best present ever. He made me a voucher saying he would do the washing up every day until February 15. And he has."

But discovering the tattoo does not mean the lovebirds, who plan to marry in Poynings in August, will not have any surprises left for February 14.

Eve, 24, said she had got Marcus a secret gift, only revealing it would be "less daring and less painful" than his. Marcus also is planning a romantic treat for Friday evening.

She said: "I have been told to be dressed to impress and ready to leave the house by 7.30pm. I have no idea where we are going or what we're going to do. But I can't wait."