IT WAS love at first checkout when a Burnley supermarket held a singles' night in the run-up to Valentine's Day.

Two people arrived at the Asda store to do their shopping at about the same time. They left half an hour later hand in hand with the promise of a dinner date in a Burnley restaurant for tonight and two free tickets for another date at the cinema.

Sheelagh Fleming, of Burnley, was the lady who got her man with the weekly shopping. She also received chocolates and flowers to make her evening complete. Her beau, though, was less outgoing. He would not be photographed because he was doing his shopping in his working clothes and he was too shy to give his name.

Asda's Pam Ferguson said: "We put on the special night to encourage singles to get together. Staff were dressed as Cinderella, Prince Charming and Buttons to create the right atmosphere. Sheelagh said she was on a serious search. We introduced her to the gentleman and, before we knew what had happened, they clicked. They have promised to let us know if anything develops. At this rate they'll be calling me Cilla Black."

Sheelagh (seated) is pictured getting lots of attention from Simon Jackson, as Prince Charming; Buttons is Louise Deakin, Cinderella is Gillian Lindgard and Jason Roberts is an unsuccessful suitor!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.