A LOVELORN pensioner from Worcester is hoping romance will blossom, thanks to BBC Hereford & Worcester.

The radio station decided to play Cupid when it found out 88-year-old Sydney Maslen from Warndon was looking for love. After asking ladies who liked the sound of him to phone in, they invited Doris May-Phillips from Harvington near Kidder-minster to join him for a slap-up meal in their Worcester studios.

The couple enjoyed a "candlelit lunch", served to them by breakfast presenter Howard Bentham, yesterday. "I've been looking for friendship since my wife Betty died nine years ago," Sydney said. "Doris is a lovely woman and we have had a very nice time."

Doris, whose husband Wally died two-and-a-half years ago, said she rang in as it sounded like fun, and she always liked to do something new. "We have been getting on very well and will hopefully see each other again," she said. But Sydney should watch out as Doris also seemed to take a fancy to breakfast DJ Howard. "He's very handsome in his dinner jacket, isn't he?" she said.