AN East Lancashire woman left Manchester’s Christmas markets with more than she bargained for - a glittering engagement ring.

Abbigail Burke, 26, of Hapton, was stunned when boyfriend Peter Smith-Robinson, 27, popped the question in front of scores of people.

He got down on one knee and asked Abbigail to marry him in one of the market’s pop-up bars on Saturday night as thousands watched on the big screen in Exchange Square.

Abbigail, a former Gawthorpe High and Burnley College student, said it was ‘like a dream’, with huge cheers coming from the watching crowds as she rounded off Peter’s elaborate plan by saying ‘yes’.

Peter, from Swinton, who works in recruitment, and Abbigail, sales manager at The Envelope Works, in Earby, met via an online dating site two years ago. They moved in together in Burnley last year.

As part of his surprise plan, Peter told unsuspecting Abbigail they were heading into Manchester to meet friends.

She said: “I’m still a bit shell-shocked. I looked up and saw a picture from one of our holidays come on the big screen.

“It still didn’t register what was going on. I looked round and he had the ring in his hand.

“It was like a dream. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t as so many people were watching.

“It was just so romantic.”

They now plan to tie the knot on July 4, 2015, the fourth anniversary of their first date.

Peter said he knew he wanted to make the proposal memorable and that the markets were the perfect location.

“They are a very special place for us, and every time we come we have a wonderful time.

“I’m always one for the grand gesture and wanted to make it really, really memorable.

“I wanted to do it before Christmas as well, so it all fell into place really.

“It took a lot of planning, but I was really grateful for the help I got from the council in organising the screen, and Vintage Lounge for reserving us a table.

“I was quite confident she would say ‘yes’ because we are so close, but when she actually did it was just amazing.”