CHISLEHURST: Nicola's 5,924-mile love trip earns its just reward

A CHISLEHURST woman who flew 5,924 miles just to declare her love for her boyfriend has now announced they plan to marry.

Nicola Yates-Bell, 33, of Manor Park, surprised boyfriend Niall Gallagher, 30, in his hotel room while he was travelling round Thailand in January this year.

She flew all the way there and hid behind his bed in Koh Samui to declare her love for him, after a carefully planned trip featured in the News Shopper.

Since then, the pair have lived together and they are now engaged to be married.

Surveyor Niall, who lives in the Isle of Dogs, intended to pop the question on a romantic diving holiday in Egypt, this summer.

His proposal was printed on a laminated card but he bottled out of producing it.

Instead, he saved the romantic invitation until a friend's wedding.

Nicola, a project development manager for the BBC, accepted immediately.

She said: "Apparently he thought I might drown if he proposed underwater.

"So he saved it until a party and just asked me on the terrace at the end of the reception.

"He says he will take me to Antwerp to buy a ring."

Before she went to Thailand, Nicola admitted she had often put her career first and not realised the value of relationships.

But now she says she is: "Incredibly happy.

"We've had time to get used to each other and it's been wonderful.

"Everything's gone really well since that trip."

The happy pair will tie the knot at Farrington's Chapel on July 12 next year.