LOVE is in the air for Wiltshire's young farmers, as the time draws close for the farming Romeos to finally meet their matches at a gala ball in Chippenham's Neeld Hall.

In February, 16 Wiltshire lads, inspired by the television series The Farmer Wants A Wife, launched their own version of the competition, The Young Farmer Wants A Girlfriend, in a bid to boost its number of female members.

After the 16 lads' pictures were published in the Gazette with their details, women were invited to pick a farmer they liked the look of and to write in with a bit about themselves.

The response was enormous and on Monday the young farmers' county co-ordinator, Sally Robinson, met judges Lucy-Anne Arrowsmith and Jane Lewis to match the guys with a suitable date.

The tantalising wait will be over on May 17, when the match-made couples will finally get to meet at a gala ball in the Neeld Hall.

All of the female entrants will be invited to the event and anyone is welcome to attend the ball after 9pm. Tickets cost £15 from (01249) 446523.

"We have received about 70 offers of dates, which is more than we expected," said Mrs Robinson.

"Most of them have tried to sell themselves on their sense of humour and have not specified anyone in particular, they have just said, 'Pick me!'"

In the last few weeks, a poster campaign has also been launched to entice even more females to come forward.

"The posters have gone pretty much everywhere, and it has boosted the interest," said Mrs Robinson.

The posters featured black and white pictures of each of the strapping lads, along with a description of them.

The message on them reads: 'Wanted, Girls for Young Farmers'.

Contestant Tim Minty, 22, of Lower Seagry, said he had barely been able to get away from the posters.

"Everywhere I have gone I have been confronted by those posters, even when I went to my local gym in Corsham there was one there," said Tim.

He added that the campaign has improved his self-confidence.

"I have had quite a few comments around the pub and at Buds in Chippenham, with different girls saying they wrote to me," he said.

The young farmers have also been featured on the BBC1 television programme Country File. Steven King, 18 of Lacock; Rob Godwin, 20, of North Wraxall; Ben Carter, 22, of Lacock, and Matt Johnston, 24, of Christian Malford, were all featured in the programme. "They filmed a group of us at The Jolly Huntsman in Kington St Michael," said Tim.

Mrs Robinson said no one would be disappointed on the night.

"There is guaranteed to be no one without a date," she said. Alex Doel, 22, of Reybridge House, Lacock, said he was getting a little bit nervous ahead of the big night.

I am getting quite worried about who will turn up and whom I will be matched with," said Alex, who is interested in cricket and rugby.

He works at Bowden Hill Farm, in Lacock.

Any girls interested in a date with one of the farmers still have time to send their entries to: Wiltshire Young Farmers, County Office, Wiltshire College, Lackham, Lacock, SN15 2NY. Applications must state the farmer of their choice.