THE car which fuelled romance between neighbours Tricia Barnfield and Steve Darlington-Case, pictured, will take centre stage when the couple marry later this year.

Steve's black Chrysler Neon will be the bridal car which takes Tricia to their October wedding after it prompted her to finally make a move after eight years.

Tricia, librarian at Rawtenstall Library, sparked a relationship on Valentine's Day last year after Steve, who works in the housing department of Manchester City Council, arrived home in his new American car.

She pushed an anonymous card through his door with the message that she had fallen in love with him and "his new sexy black car".

And Tricia, 40, continued to put cards through Steve's door every month until October, when she finally plucked up the courage to confess she was behind the campaign.

The couple, who live in Shuttleworth, have been together ever since and on Monday, a year after the first Valentine's card, Steve, 50, asked Tricia to marry him during a romantic candlelit dinner for two.

Tricia said: "I fell for Steve eight years ago and although close neighbours I didn't have the courage to let him know my feelings. Now my dream has come true."

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