THE romantic city of Paris was the backdrop of a special engagement for Thanet council chairman Jeff Kirkpatrick.

He chose spring time in the lovers’ paradise to propose to his sweetheart Mandy Winters and said afterwards: “It was a lovely moment.

“We were in the splendidly ornate setting of a 1900s brasserie called Le Train Bleu at the historic Gare de Lyon in the heart of Paris.

“The mood and the moment were just right and I am delighted to say she accepted me.”

Mandy is an all-round cabaret entertainer, singer and dancer who specialises in a Dolly Parton tribute act.

Cllr Kirkpatrick had planned to go down on one knee up the Eiffel Tower but he revealed: “There was another couple doing the same thing, so I left it.”

Once back home in Broadstairs, the chairman duly fell to bended knee to once again ask in the time-honoured fashion.

He said: “I am very proud, very lucky and very happy. We have been together for two years and our families are delighted at the news.”

His eldest son Ian will be best man. Mandy’s six-year-old daughter Somerset will accompany her mother up the aisle as bridesmaid, and Cllr Kirkpatrick’s two grandsons, Alexander and Edward, will be pageboys.

The wedding will be held locally towards the end of the summer but Cllr Kirkpatrick is remaining tight-lipped about the whereabouts and date for the time being.