IT'S the beginning of a purr-fect love story.

Stephen Knowles has proposed to girlfriend Hazel Fransch... with some help from Hazel's favourite cat, Petrus.

Stephen and Hazel volunteer at Bournemouth's Pause Cat Cafe, a non-profit eatery which is home to 12 rescue cats.

The pair, both 22, met at an archaeological dig after moving to the town in 2015 for university.

Hazel started volunteering at the cat cafe in October 2017, and now trains other volunteers to care for the rescue cats. Stephen started to help out at the beginning of last year.

He decided to propose to Hazel during an overnight stay at the cafe and enlisted the help of Petrus, a grey tabby who was handed into Spring Corner Vets as a kitten in very poor health.

After Petrus was rehomed at the cat cafe, Hazel nursed him back to health.

Stephen decided the best way to propose would be to get Petrus involved, eventually putting the ring box near the cat and asking Hazel to check on him.

He then got down on one knee to ask for Hazel's hand in marriage.

"I'm so unbelievably happy," Hazel said.

“Petrus gave us so much attention all night and refused to leave us alone after Stephen proposed."