A romantic opportunist has issued a Valentine’s message to an entire community.

The intimate sentiment is on public display at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop in Sittingbourne.

It’s part of the charity’s National Heart Month during which people can announce their feelings for a loved one or prospective partner.

Staff said they usually get about 50 dedications which are written on a heart-shaped card and hung in the High Street store’s front window.

But they admit it’s the first time anyone has been so liberal with their affection.

The controversial card, which sent emotions soaring when its picture appeared on Facebook, reads: “To all the eastern European ladies in Sittingbourne, I love you all.”

Its author, Rob Mclaughlin, of Staple Close, Milton Regis, said his passion for beauties from behind the old Iron Curtain inspired his blanket declaration.

The 45-year-old healthcare assistant said: “I love eastern European women.

“My Facebook name is ‘Es Milu Tevi’ which means, ‘I love you’ in Latvian.

“All my girlfriends have been foreign – my former wife’s Latvian and my current girlfriend’s Russian.

“I also wanted to wind a few people up,” he added.

“A lot of people have told me to go forth and live in Latvia, and go on about ‘foreigners who come over here and take our jobs’.

“So I wanted to have a bit of a laugh about that, really.”

It costs between £1 and £2 to have a romantic message displayed in the BHF window.

Contributors are able to collect and keep their card once Valentine’s Day has passed.

Karen Beeching, 50, the shop’s assistant manager, said during her eight years at the store, it was the first time someone had showered so many ladies with one sweet gesture.

“We usually get people writing notes for their partner, or children to their nan and grandad,” she said.

Rob, who moved to Sittingbourne from London 14 years ago, said his current girlfriend isn’t perturbed by him, in a literary sense, throwing his loving arms around the world.

“She isn’t jealous or anything, she knows my sense of humour,” he said.

“I just wanted to say to eastern European women, ‘I love you all and welcome to the UK’.”