IF you are happy being single, I wouldn't bother to read the rest of this article. If not, read on because this might just be for you.

How many times have you heard colleagues or friends complain that they are too busy to meet that special person. Their busy lives mean they spend all their time in meetings or chasing deadlines, when they should be out there looking for love.

This is where speed dating comes in.

Instead of trawling singles' bars or pubs and clubs, speed dating allows you to meet lots of potential partners, all at the same time.

Now speed dating has come to Bromsgrove in the shape of Xpress Dating Services, which has been set up by three local ladies who reckon they could be Worcestershire's answer to cupid.

Jane Carter, Dawn Hollyoake and Jane Cotterill set up Xpress Dating Services after discovering that there was no speed dating service in the area.

"Dawn is a psychology student at Worcester university and was doing a dissertation on relationships," explained Jane. "We tried to find a local speed dating service and was surprised to find that there wasn't one. So we decided to set up our own."

The girls swung into action and were soon ready for their first big night, which was held at the Nailer's Arms, Bournheath, on Monday, June 7.

The launch night was set to be for the over 40s. There were 16 ladies and around the same number of men.

The first thing to say about speed dating is that it can be a bit nerve-wracking, oh yes, it can also be a bit fast.

"It's like being thrown into the lions' den," said one wag as the men sheepishly entered the room, where the 16 women were sat at their own tables.

A bell rang and we were off. Find an empty table, introduce yourself and you've got three whole minutes to make that special bond, or not as the case may be.

It took a few goes before I managed to get the hang of it. You exchange first names and a number you get given at the start. If you like what you hear and see you tick the box on your little card. If you both tick the same box, bingo. The organisers give you each other's phone numbers, and the rest, as they say, is up to you.

Meanwhile, back at ground zero, I was getting into the swing of things. I was meeting a lot of Gills from Redditch, who all seemed to agree that Redditch is not the most romantic place on earth.

Occasionally, three minutes felt like an eternity. "Ring the bell," I begged as I desperately struggled for something to say to Tricia from Rugeley. But mostly three minutes felt more like three seconds. "Is that it?" I thought as I looked round to find my next 'significant other.'

Finally it was all over and the organisers collected our cards to find how many matches they'd got. "We had quite a lot of matches. Some people ticked quite a lot," said Jane. "People said they had a really good night. It seemed to go really well."

My first taste of speed dating was over and the big question has to be, did I find a match or not? Well, as they say in all the best romances, that's for me to know and for you to find out.

For more details about Xpress Dating Services call 01527 877677. Alternatively, check out their website at www.xpressdatingservices.co.uk