A ROMANTIC Californian dreamed up an original way to propose to his girlfriend - via a plaque on Swanage Pier.

Tom Meadows, 34, organised the surprise with help from his father, Chris, who lives in Langton Matravers.

A plaque with the words 'China I love you. Will you marry me?' was laid next to a blank plaque awaiting her reply.

But British weather nearly scuppered the plan as Tom struggled to persuade his girlfriend to stroll along the pier in the pouring rain while on holiday in Purbeck.

He said: "I took her for a walk along the pier which she didn't want to do at all. She stopped five feet away saying: 'I'm cold and wet, I don't want to read plaques in the rain, I want to go home'. "I said: 'Just walk a few feet forward, there might be something funny'.

"At first she thought there was another China in Swanage and then she saw the name Tom. She turned round and I was down on one knee holding a diamond ring and she forgot all about the rain."

The couple met four years ago in a bar at Lake Arrowhead, 100 miles east of Los Angeles. China Carl, 28, is a former figure skater whose coach was Robin Cousins, and Tom, who grew up in England, makes carved furniture and has lived in California for 14 years.

Tom said: "I was optimistic and put an empty plaque next to it, so soon there will be a 'yes' appearing there."

The couple were on holiday in Purbeck to celebrate the 60th birthday of Tom's mother Anne - they are now planning to get married in Langton Matravers.

Tom said: "I think that part of the country is the most beautiful place in the world and every time I visit I'm so tempted to move back."