76018THE Evening Advertiser made a Swindon mum's dream come true when she was whisked off in a limo to meet her hero David Soul.

Every weekend Karen Coulthard, 42 of Broad Street, sits down to a few episodes of Starsky and Hutch.

Her husband believes she is David's biggest fan and she has longed to meet him since she was a schoolgirl.

This week she came face to face with the man and has memories she will treasure forever.

It was thanks to her husband Ken and their 12-year-old triplets Andrew, Samantha and Matthew who wrote to us in November asking if we could arrange the meeting.

The last time the family appeared in the Adver it was under very different circumstances.

In 1992 Karen was visiting London when she went into labour prematurely with the triplets and had to be rushed to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington where they were delivered eight weeks early by Caesarean section.

Karen was taken back to Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital to recover but that the triplets had to stay in London until there were enough ambulances to bring them home.

After our report Wiltshire Ambulance crews stepped in to save the day and brought the babies home.

This week Karen arrived at our offices thinking she was there so we could interview her about her children.

When she was told the real reason and shown the triplet's letter she was stunned.

"I just can't believe it it's just totally surreal," she said.

"The letter the children wrote was absolutely lovely.

"Meeting David Soul is something I've always dreamed of but I never ever thought it would actually happen."

In the letter, the triplets wrote: "We want to give our mum a surprise.

"Our mum is the best in the world. She helps us with our homework, she washes our school uniforms and PE kits for us.

"She is a lovely lady."

Before meeting David, Karen was treated to a manicure and blow dry at the West One Hair and Beauty Salon in Victoria Road.

A West One stretch limo then picked up the couple.

They were driven to London to watch The Jerry Springer Show, in which David is starring, at The Cambridge Theatre.

It was the first time that Karen had seen her heart-throb in person.

Ken, 64,said: "Karen has got to be David Soul's biggest ever fan. She watches his DVDs over and over again."

After watching the show, Karen finally met her hero.

"I told him I was his biggest fan and he said 'Bless you, what a wonderful thing to say'.

"He kissed my hand and he kissed my cheek.

"It was incredible. He's such a lovely man and a real gentleman.

"This really is a dream come true for me. I've got memories now that I will cherish forever."

Diana Milne