A bride-to-be turned the tables by taking advantage of the leap year to propose to her boyfriend. And to complete the role reversal sixth form teaching assistant Tracy Ormerod even bought fiance Scott Eccles a ring.

Tracy, 34, surprised Scott by making the proposal as they enjoyed a meal out at their favourite restaurant.

She had arranged for the owner to bring the ring and a bottle with the label reading ‘Will you marry me?’.

And she was delighted when Scott said ‘yes’.

Traditionally, February 29 is the only day in the year when women are able to propose to men but Tracy said she wasn’t able to wait and went ahead early.

Tracy, who lives with Scott at Ash Street in Oswaldtwistle, said: "It was a complete surprise. He didn’t know anything about it. His divorce came through on the day and we had arranged to go to our favourite restaurant.

"It’s a tradition for woman to propose on a leap year and I was looking on websites when you are meant to do it. It said you could do it any time that’s appropriate to you."

The couple had gone to the Deliciosa restaurant in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Tracy, who works as a sixth form and special needs assistant at Accrington Academy, said she was in no doubt her partner of 18 months would say yes.

She said: "Everything went to plan. I didn’t have any nerves about him saying no. I would have killed him if he had. The restaurant was quite busy and when it happened everyone applauded and one couple bought us a bottle of champagne which was really nice."

Tracy met Scott, 42, a quality manager at Regal Precision Engineers in Colne, during a blind date arranged through a mutual friend

The couple said they now plan to marry abroad and are looking at the Greek island of Kos as a possible destination

Tracy added: "We want to do it abroad but we already have a holiday booked this year so it won’t be until next year at the earliest."

Scott said the proposal was a ‘complete surprise’. He said: "It certainly wasn’t something I was expecting on that day. Maybe on valentine’s Day or on February 29 but not then. I saw the waiter coming round the corner with a bottle on the tray with a card and a flower and I twigged and I said ‘yes’ straight away.

"The ring looks like a wedding ring. It has a plain band with a small diamond. The next day we went shopping and got her an engagement ring. She wasn’t leaving without one. I was thinking about proposing maybe later on in the year when we went on holiday but she beat me to it."