ROMANTIC residents in the Basingstoke area are being hailed as among the most lovey-dovey in the country - and Valentine's Day really showcases their loving mood.

A survey conducted by a major supermarket chain has discovered that shoppers in the town snap up four times more flowers than the national average on February 14.

Yet that's not all. According to the Safeway survey, they also buy more champagne and chocolate than any other town in Hampshire.

The supermarket came by its results by analysing the sale of romantic products - flowers, chocolate and champagne - for all its stores across the region.

But it's flowers that really capture the imagination of the town. The survey shows nine times more flowers are bought than champagne and 10 times more than chocolates.

A spokesman said: "I always knew that Hampshire was a romantic region and it's great to see the good folk of Basingstoke beat the whole of the UK for flowers sales on Valentine's Day."

The area's obsession with flowers means local florists are burning the midnight oil just to keep up with demand.

Julie Allen runs Moutan Flowers in Odiham High Street. This is her first Valentine's Day and she said: "I've ordered 700 red roses. In a normal week, I'll sell about 60. I've ordered about four times more stock. It's pretty manic already, and, like many florists, I'm expecting a lot of men to leave it to the last minute."

This year's Valentine's Day holds an extra significance for at least two couples in the town. Melanie Neale, 26, and Michael Black-man, 34, have chosen the most romantic day of the year to tie the knot.

Melanie, a fundraiser at St Michael's Hospice, explained that, as her busiest time of the year is in summer, they had to choose a winter wedding.

She also admitted: "I also have a terrible memory when it comes to dates - so Valentine's Day was perfect."

Meanwhile, Christine and Bill Hamp, of Pershore Road, Popley, Basingstoke, will be celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, which is wood. Christine, 26, and Bill, 34, were among the last couples to tie the knot at the old Basingstoke register office.

Christine said: "We have had a very happy five years - I haven't divorced him yet! Bill means everything to me and we hope to have many more happy years together."

l If you pop the question to your loved one on Valentine's Day, we'd love to hear all about it.

You can contact us by calling the newsdesk on 01256 337444 or by e-mailing newsdesk@ basingstokegazette.co.uk