A LEIGH man literally broke the ice when he proposed to his long-term girlfriend on live television.

Fergal Lyons decided the only way to gain any attention from his figure skating-mad girlfriend, Fiona Sinclair, during the World Figure Skating Championships was to bite the bullet and propose during Eurosport's coverage.

Finance worker Fiona, aged 27, had forbidden boyfriend Fergal, aged 30, from speaking to her during the week-long championships.

In despair Fergal contacted the British Eurosport studio and asked presenter Cris St Valery to make the announcement live on air.

He proposed during a live studio chat with former British Ice Dance Champion Nicky Slater.

A delighted Fergal said: "Fiona got the shock of her life, but she said yes! There aren't too many Fergals in the ice skating world so I got her attention right away."

Fiona said: "Well it was certainly one way to get my attention."

The couple, who met in Spain six years ago and live in St Helen's Road, Leigh, plan to marry next year.