Chelmsford man Neil Watson has been named a Man in a Million.

He and his fiance, Marie Billows, had been together for only six months when he whisked her off to Venice and proposed on a gondola.

Marie, 26, nominated him for the Woman's Realm/Lemsip Max Strength Man award.

Neil,33, of Springfield Road, even asked Marie's parents for their consent before they left for Italy.

Marie was in Orlando when Neil paid her a surprise visit so that they could be together on their first Valentine's Day. "He is so romantic," she said.

Neil said: "It is wonderful to think how much my partner Marie cares, to write in and nominate me for the award."

Their prize is a luxury three-night break at a health spa. They also win £100-worth of vouchers to spend on healthy food from the supermarket of their choice, plus a selection of beauty treatments and make-up.

Picture, top: Neil and Marie are pictured in Venice.

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