A PENSIONER has struck on a novel way to find female companionship but his attempts to track down Miss Right keep being thwarted at every turn.

Widower Don Fielding, 73, has been hunting for a date for Valentine's Day tomorrow but after putting an advert in his car, which still failed to get a response, he is worried he is running out of time and ideas.

Mr Fielding from Bradford on Avon said: "I came up with a DIY plan to word an advert and put it in the car.

"It caused a lot of response from people in the street saying 'you're not leaving that there' and 'what a joke'."

The advert caused a stir with West Wiltshire District Council's parking officers who told Mr Fielding that private advertising in its car parks was against the rules. He said: "I parked in Trowbridge last week only to find the car park attendant on her mobile talking to her office. I was told I was breaking the law.

"I fell about and even the attendant was laughing, she had never read anything like it before."

This is Mr Fielding's third attempt in recent weeks to find a female companion.

He said: "I have been on my own for three years since my wife died and I had to do something about it. I tried a dating agency in a newspaper.

"The first thing to do was to contact a lady who seemed to fit the bill. I wanted to keep the call short at £1 a minute and I spent the money but all I got was a recording telling me I had mis-dialled and after four attempts I gave up.

"I decided to try advertising in the newspaper but that didn't work. The car advert seemed the best solution."

District council spokesman Louise Knox said: "We have a car parking order that states no touting or advertising of any nature is allowed in our car parks. We have ticketed people in the past for advertising their car for sale in our car parks but in this case, it was a slightly tongue in cheek situation so Mr Fielding was not given a ticket."

Desperate and dateless Mr Fielding is now trying to come up with a new idea.

He said: "What I don't know is where I go from here. The advert was clean and professional and it asked for a tall lady as I am 6ft 5ins. The advert is still in the car and of course, the vacancy is still open."

Anyone who would like to contact Mr Fielding can call our newsdesk on (01225) 352483.