THEY say that love is a fool’s game and for one man in Christchurch it seems the saying is not too far from the truth.

Dressed as a chicken and armed with a placard urging shoppers to “Sign the idiot petition”, Duncan Coleman went out onto the streets of Christchurch yesterday to try and win over his girlfriend.

Love-struck Duncan, 29, from Bransgore wanted to show his girlfriend that he was sorry after he had lied to her over New Year, so took to the streets asking shoppers in Saxon Square and the High Street to sign the document.

Duncan said: “I just wanted to make a grand gesture and have the opportunity to make things right again.

“She doesn’t know I’m doing this. She’ll probably kill me when she finds out.

“I hope she’ll see this as a romantic gesture. I just want her to know how sorry I am for lying to her and not listening to her – generally being a typical man.

“If it means me making a fool of myself to show her how much I love her then so be it.”

Friend Molly Whitlaw who was helping Duncan with the petition said: “Most of the ladies want to know exactly what he has done to warrant the costume with the men signing the petition out of sympathy for him.

“Overall it’s had a really positive response from people.”

One passer-by, Yve Midgley said: “I think this is lovely. If this had happened to me then I would have him back. He's obviously very sorry.”