Emily DennisIt will be a Valentine's Day with a difference at a North Suffolk pub where the traditional romantic meal has been abandoned in favour of a speed-dating night.Emily Dennis

It will be a Valentine's Day with a difference at a North Suffolk pub where the traditional romantic meal has been abandoned in favour of a speed-dating night.

Nick and Debbie Sumner, who own the Wissett Plough, at Wissett, near Halesworth, were so surprised at the number of single people living in the village that they have decided to take on Cilla Black's role and become match-makers for the night.

They are hoping to spread the love by getting as many participants aged between 18 and 90 to come along to the event on February 14 - and believe it is never too late to find someone special.

Mrs Sumner said: "There are a lot of single people around here and last year a couple of girls went out for a meal on Valentine's Day and all the restaurants were full of couples.

"We did have a Valentine's meal last year with a special romantic menu, but we decided to ditch that this year because there is nowhere for singles to go. We thought the event would be a bit of fun - and you never know when love will strike."

Mrs Sumner said that people taking part would have to fill in a registration form and that the pub would only give out telephone numbers if two people agreed they would like to see each other again.

Participants will have three minutes to impress prospective partners before the men move on to the next table while the women stay in their seats.

"We have had quite a few people register and we think quite a lot of people will come along on the night," said Mrs Sumner..

"But we may have to find a few more men as there are a lot of women who are interested. My husband and son will be standing by just in case!"

Mr Sumner said it would be a light-hearted event and that people who are married or attached may get involved for a bit of fun.

The couple said that one regular who would be taking part is 82-year-old Peter Cutts, a single man who has lived in the village all his life.

Participants can pre-register at

the pub or on the night no later

than 7.30pm. The event starts at 8pm. Entrants will be charged �10 to include one glass of wine or a pint

of beer.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the mental health charity Mind and Children with Leukaemia.

For further information or to

pre-register, contact the pub on 01986 872201.