If you like a romantic story, then read on.

After 19 years, Spencer Perrin decided the time was right to pop the question to his girlfriend Maria and ask for her hand in marriage.

And he did it in fine style, commissioning a sand art masterpiece on one of their favourite beaches - Tenby Harbour.

But when Spencer, 44, enlisted the help of Marc Treanor, of Dinas Cross based Sand Circles, little did he know that the proposal would attract a large crowd of spectators and that it would go viral on the worldwide web.

“Tenby was the first place we went away together,” Spencer, of Llandegveth, Newport, Gwent, told the Observer.

“We have visited many times since, but it was under a lamppost overlooking the harbour beach that I first told Maria I loved her.”

He continued: “After 19 years of being together, the proposal had to be special. I initially thought I would write ‘will you marry me’ in the sand myself, but after some research I found Marc Treanor and together we came up with the idea of him designing the proposal.”

It was Maria’s birthday on Sunday - the day of the proposal - so the couple visited Tenby for the weekend, Maria, who turned 48, unbeknowing anything other than her birthday celebrations were planned.

“I had an awful job trying to find a B&B as it was the Carten weekend and everywhere was full, but the kind people at Weston Lodge Boutique B&B delayed their own holiday to accommodate us,” said Spencer.

Spencer, who works for College Gwent, had secretly hid the engagement ring in the house leading up to the proposal and Maria, an A&E nurse, didn’t have a clue until they walked down to the harbour beach and saw the proposal on the sand.

“There were so many people there watching, I really couldn’t believe it. Maria is not one for the limelight, but she wrote ‘yes’ in the sand and everyone started cheering and clapping. We then hurriedly went off and had fish and chips together quietly.”

The sand proposal was based on two Celtic horse ornaments Spencer and Maria have in their home from a holiday in Greece.

“They really were a sweet couple,” said Marc, who took around two hours to create the design in the sand.

“This is the third proposal I have done and it is really nice to be part of someone’s happy day,” he added.