FOR Trowbridge man Stephen Sims, love means a 12-hour coach journey every week.

He is such a loyal customer, coach firm National Express has given him a ticket for a free journey to Hartlepool.

Mr Sims, 32, travels to Teesside every week to be with his pregnant wife, Lynn, 34.

The couple's long-distance relationship began two years ago when they met over the internet.

Mr Sims said: "It was pure chance that we met on the internet, now I work with computers 12 hours a day I don't go on it much any more."

They arranged to meet up after chatting online. The pair got on just as well in person and married last October. Their baby is due in April.

Mr Sims plans to move to Hartlepool eventually but now he works weekends as a customer adviser for Virgin Mobile from Friday to Sunday. Then he takes the £46, 12-hour trip to be with his wife on Monday.

On Tuesday Stephanie Woodbury from National Express presented him with a free ticket at Trowbridge Tourist Information Centre.