A WELL-KNOWN landmark took on a romantic hue thanks to a loved-up couple celebrating their first Valentine's Day together.

The bright green LV= heart on County Gates roundabout in Poole is a familiar sight to motorists of the conurbation - but it might have caused them to look twice on Valentine's Day when it turned bright red.

It was the late-night handiwork of Simon Rigler, 25, and his girlfriend Liva Osite, from Bournemouth, who hand crafted a red cover for the heart out of Wilko's king sized sheets.

They pinned it on with safety pins during a secret mission at 10.30pm on Saturday night - with drivers tooting their approval as they worked.

Self-confessed romantic Simon, a bus driver, told the Echo: "I drive past it every day and every year I thought 'someone's got to do it.'

"My partner is having our baby in May and it's our first Valentine's Day together so I thought why not make it special. We took a few photos and made some memories which will last a long time.

"Obviously it can be seen by everyone driving past as well - thousands of cars - so hopefully it will put a smile on a few faces this Valentine's Day."

Lucky Liva, told the Echo: "Simon suggested it and we just went for it - it was quite an interesting thing to do!"

The pair met when Liva, a dental nurse, rented Simon's spare room in June last year. Friendship blossomed into romance and within a few months they were a happy couple - and are soon to become a family.

The only problem with love's young dream could be matching this sky-high Valentine's Day standard year after year.

"I'm going to have to up the ante next year aren't I," added Simon. "But at least I have a year to think about it!"