A gallant Prince swept a maiden off her feet and popped a surprise question - after 26 years' courting.

Tony Prince planned his wedding down to the finest detail, convincing his partner, Shirley, and their two children the weekend in Scotland was a spur-of-the-moment holiday.

But when they pulled up outside the famous Old Blacksmith's Shop, he turned to her and asked: "Will you marry me? You've got 25 minutes to decide before the vicar gets here."

Shirley, 49, who had already changed her surname to Prince by deed poll, agreed. And the happy couple, who live in Telscombe Cliffs, grabbed a pair of passing tourists to act as witnesses.

Tony, 59, a town councillor in Telscombe, said: "She had absolutely no idea what was going to happen. I'd told her to dress up because we were going somewhere special. For all she knew we were going to meet the Queen.

"The kids were overjoyed. I hadn't told them either."

Shirley, who works at Lewes Tertiary College, said: "He told us the trip was a surprise and said I'd need a posh frock and a hat. I thought it was a murder mystery weekend or something.

"It wasn't until we arrived at Gretna Green I twigged what he'd been up to. It was quite unreal. I got a fit of the giggles and said, 'Yes, why not?'.

"Then he produced a bouquet from the boot and buttonholes for the boys and off we went."

The surprise wedding is the latest episode in the couple's romantic relationship.

They were both in unhappy marriages when Shirley moved in two doors down from Tony's home in Kent in 1976.

Tony said: "Neither of us was happy and we needed a shoulder to cry on. That's how it started and then we fell in love."

Soon after, with an impulsiveness that came to characterise their relationship, they decided to make a break.

He said: "I jumped in my car, drove along two houses and picked her up. We had one suitcase between us."

The pair headed for a friend's flat, where they stayed before deciding to start a new life together in the Middle East.

Tony worked as a consultant engineer, while Shirley continued her career as a secretary.

He said: "We were there for 12 years until Shirley fell pregnant and we decided to come home."

They returned to Kent in 1989 but Tony found work with ex-boxer George Walker, who at the time was spearheading the development of Brighton Marina, so they soon moved to the coast.

Tony said: "We had the children and lived together but I never got around to proposing. Once you've had one failed marriage, you tend to think twice about taking the plunge again. After 26 years I think we've made our minds up.

"I thought about it in May when I was visiting my sister in Scotland and I've been preparing since then. It has been a nightmare keeping everything secret."

Shirley said: "It's the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me."