As Andrew Bush pounded round the gruelling London marathon route he had more on his mind than just reaching the finishing line.

Emblazoned on the back of his T-shirt was the plea "Sarah, will you marry me?"

His partner of over five years, Sarah Ginbey, was there in the crowds with their four-month-old daughter, Sophie-Jayne.

She had driven him to the start, but at that stage the message was concealed under a second T-shirt.

Sarah, 22, who ran last year's marathon while she was unknowingly pregnant with Sophie-Jayne, said: "We tried to see him at the Cutty Sark but it was too packed. We didn't see him again until 14 miles but then I could not read the back of his T-shirt, so I didn't realise until 20 miles.

"I didn't know what to do. Obviously, I was really chuffed. I rang my mum and cried.

"I had no idea it was coming. We had talked about it but he never hinted he was going to ask. It was a bit of a shock and a lovely surprise."

But it was another six miles before Andrew, a 23-year-old surveyor of Merrivale, Benfleet finally got his answer.

Sarah's acceptance and his heroic feat made it an unforgettable day.

As an extra bonus, Andrew now has £1,200 to hand to the local branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Sarah's aunt died of the disease last year.

Published Monday, April 21, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo