Gill HughesSingletons in Wootton Bassett have shunned the chance of finding Mr or Mrs Right begging the question as to whether love has died in the market town.

Gill Hughes had big plans for a romantic candle lit evening of wining and dining leading to love and happiness when she organised a speed dating event in the town on Tuesday night.

But to her dismay the event which would have been the first of its kind to come to Bassett had to be dumped due a lack of prospective lovers.

A disappointed but not defeated Mrs Hughes said: "It's a shame but there just wasn't the numbers to warrant the night. I guess Bassett just isn't ready for this yet."

Speed dating is a craze that has already swept the US and has become increasingly popular in the UK since appearing on the popular TV series Sex and the City.

Singles gather at a venue and have just a few minutes to ask each other questions before moving on to the next person. At the end of the night hopefuls make a list of the other people they liked and, if pairs match up, then contact details are swapped and they take it from there.

Mrs Hughes, who lives in Bassett, had hoped up to 40 men and women would sign up for the evening. Despite having a fair amount of interest only a handful of people took the plunge.

"We aimed the evening at 24 to 45-year-olds but a lot of the interest was coming from people in their 40s and 50s, so next time I think we'll change the age bracket to maybe 35 to 55-year-olds," said Mrs Hughes.

But despite the cancellation, residents and traders in Bassett are adamant that love lives on in the town.

Donna Bowers is a supervisor at Delicias Caf and Wine Bar where the event was going to be held.

She said: "I'm surprised because it did create quite a buzz around the town and everyone's been talking about it. I had a few friends in their 40s who were interested but I guess the younger ones go to pubs and clubs instead. But I'm sure there's still lots of love in Bassett."

Florist Claire Bradley of the Elizabeth Anne Florist on the High Street said: "Love is still very much alive and kicking and we get lots of lovely romantic requests from all ages from school children right up to the really old boys."

Matchmaker Mrs Hughes, who in time hopes to start up a dating agency, has now aimed her arrows at Swindon and is planning an event towards the end of this month or the beginning of May.

She's adjusted her tactics from the lessons learned in Bassett.

"It will be for slightly older people and, as well as all the posters, I'll be doing more on the internet. I went to an event last week and practically everyone had signed up on the internet so I'm looking to create my own webpage."