A MAN surprised his girlfriend with a proposal at the finish line of the Birmingham half-marathon, and ended up making the news on the other side of the world.

Andy Forbes got down on one knee just as he and Becky Cunningham completed the 13-mile run.

He had secretly enlisted the help of his sister and some of the couple's children, who waited at the finish line with a banner emblazoned with the words 'Becky, will you marry me?'

The proposal, last Saturday, was caught on camera and has attracted widespread media coverage.

A friend of Mr Forbes even contacted him from New Zealand to say she'd heard the Inkberrow couple's story on her local radio station.

Mr Forbes said: "It started off as a small idea and went a little bit crazy in the end."

Mr Forbes, who runs Blackpole Powder Coating in Worcester, came up with the idea partly to involve his two younger children Alfie, nine, and Annabelle, 10, and Miss Cunningham's son Harry, six.

He said: "I wanted to include the younger children. I wanted it to be a surprise and I wanted it to be memorable.

"I've done a half marathon before and I know the lovely feeling of finishing it.

"I knew we would all be there so I got a banner printed and said to my sister, can you get the children up there and give me the ring."

"Obviously Becky said yes.

"We started hugging and everyone cheered.

"It was wonderful.

"There were people taking pictures. We got interviewed for Central News and there was a two-page spread in the Birmingham Mail.

"I've got two older children, Lauren and Thomas, as well and they were thrilled for us too."

On the day, Mr Forbes warned Miss Cunningham, a trainee psychiatrist, to look out for a banner that the children had made for them.

He said: "She said she saw the banner and thought, that's nice for someone, and then she saw the kids and thought, it's me.

"It ticked every box more than I could have dreamed.

"It's been the best proposal ever.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to top it."

The couple were also thrilled to raise £500 for New Hope Worcester, a charity that helps children with disabilities.

Mr Forbes said: "It's only £500 but apparently that will pay for a day out for the children and give their parents and carers some respite."

The couple plan to marry next year.