First prize, a date with my daughter

LINDA ADAMS was so concerned that her 24- year-old daughter, Sabina, was single that she has announced a competition in her local newspaper to find her a date.

Eligible bachelors aged between 24 and 30 are being asked to send in a photograph and explain in no more than 500 words why they would be the perfect partner.

Ms Adams insists that she isn’t looking for a husband for her daughter but hopes to find someone with whom she can celebrate Christmas after spending the past few years on her own.

She said: “I don’t know why she can’t find a boyfriend, because she’s a very good-looking girl. I got the idea from watching television reality shows.”

Sabina, who lives with her son, Jake, in Barnstaple, North Devon, said that she was quite happy to go along with her mother, though she admits that she was apprehensive about what her friends might say.

She said: “To be honest I don’t have much problem finding blokes to go out with but although I’ve had relationships since splitting up with Jake’s father none of them has lasted. I think I’m more worried about it than my Mum. But every one is looking for the perfect partner, aren’t they? And I am happy to go along with it for a laugh.”

Ms Adams, 53, has been so busy trying to find a partner for her daughter that she has neglected to look for one for herself. However, after she’s sifted through the applicants there may be someone left for her. “It has crossed my mind,” she said.

North Devon Journal deputy editor Richard Best said: “Sabina’s mum emailed us to say she had a daughter who she thought was stunning and should have a decent bloke.

“She asked if we would consider running something and we agreed that we would. The pair of them seem to have taken to the idea.

“We’re going to vet any people who obviously aren’t suitable and then we will pass on what seem reasonable ones.”

Sabina said she was primarily looking for someone with a good personality who could make her laugh, but added that Brad Pitt lookalikes would not be rejected out of hand.

Interested single men aged 24 to 30 who live in north Devon should write to the North Devon Journal by November 28.

The paper is offering to provide a meal and a bottle of champagne for the first date.