IT’S A proposal Jim, but not as we know it.

Tim Jeanes made a wedding proposal with a difference as he stunned partner Claire Webber by going down one one knee at a science fiction convention in Southampton.

A crowd of hundreds at the Sci-Fi Ball erupted as Claire immediately said yes, two years after the couple met at a similar convention on the South Coast.

The 22nd Sci-Fi Ball is taking place at Southampton’s Grand Harbour Hotel and money raised throughout the three-day event will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The events have raised more than £22,000 for the charity.

An opening ceremony kicked off proceedings last night (Fri, Feb 5) with Tim’s proposal the main talking point despite the cast of actors, writers and authors behind them on stage.

They first met at the Sci-Fi Ball in Bournemouth in 2014 at the bar, with council worker Claire, 44, from Hinckley near Coventry, saying: “We had gone to lots of these events at the same time, but without knowing each other.”

Yesterday 31-year-old Tim, from Newbury, managed to upstage Stephen Fry and actors Mark Gatiss and Taron Egerton, who all sent video messages, when he made the proposal got down on one knee during the opening ceremony.

Although Claire said yes immediately while the crowd of hundreds cheers, one thing did not go quite to plan – Tim’s trousers ripped.

Afterwards, speaking to the Daily Echo, he said: “I had some Dutch courage. It would have helped if I hadn’t ripped my trousers.

“I would have done it ages ago but I knew it had to be here. Four months into our relationship I always knew I was going to marry her.”

And Claire added: “I wasn’t expecting it today. I’m really happy, I was actually really nervous for Tim because he was speaking in front of lots of people, but it’s like they vanished when he asked me.

“It was really nice.”

One of the actors at the event, Star Trek: Enterprise’s Dominic Keating, said: “They are a very nice couple and it was a lovely moment.”

Over the next two days the fan-run convention will feature a host of events including a black-tie dinner, a raffle of rare “money can’t buy” items, a party themed around Batman’s home city of Gotham and a late-night disco.

The event will feature appearances from a host of familiar faces from sci-fi, from Star Trek: Enterprise actors Vaughn Armstrong, Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer, to Doctor Who stars Annette Badland and Sabrina Bartlett, who will also appear in Game of Thrones, writer James Moran, author Robert Rankin and illustrator Lee Bradley.

And over the course of its three days fans can have autographs signed by the stars, cast their eyes over collectibles and merchandise, check out recreations of iconic television show sets and enjoy a range of activities, games and competitions.

Entrance fees to the exhibition hall today and tomorrow costs are available on the door today and tomorrow, costing £5 for adults and is free for children.