A ROMANTIC managed to get down on his dodgy knee to propose to his girlfriend in a scene “like something out of a film” after a series of coincidences.

Paul Crummy popped the question to Helen Painter in St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton, with the choir on hand to congratulate them and fireworks going off outside.

When Helen managed to get her words out, she accepted and the couple now hope to get married there on the anniversary of the proposal.

“It was absolutely beautiful, really emotional like something out of a film,” said Paul, 44, of Rectory Road, Burnham, a support worker who is off sick with a gammy knee.

“I’d kept the ring in my wardrobe for some time, but carried it around in my pocket.

“We were going to Tunisia two days later and I’d planned to propose there, but then thought it wasn’t quite right doing it abroad.”

Paul and Helen reckon everything was down to fate – he caught the train to Taunton on Friday, November 7, but it was delayed by 20 minutes, then they were walking around St Mary’s when the vicar, the Rev Rod Corke, came out of a side door and dropped his keys.

“The chances of those things happening and then with choir practise all on the same night – maybe Paul’s dad and my mum, who are both dead, were looking down on us,” said Helen, 35, also a support worker, from Alma Street, Taunton.

“When the vicar dropped his keys, we started talking and he welcomed us to look round the church.

“Paul whispered to him that he wanted to propose and he put the lights on the angels on the glass door at the entrance and left us alone.

“It was wonderful when Paul got down on his knee and proposed – for the first time in my life I was speechless.

“The choir were clapping. It was so romantic – perfect.”