WHIRLWIND couple Jason Stintson and Samantha Marsden didn't waste anytime after Cupid's arrow struck -- they got engaged on their first date!

It could have been the songs that DJ Jason was spinning at the local pub on Sunday. Or perhaps there was something in the beer that barmaid Samantha was pulling.

Either way love was certainly in the air for the couple which led to the almost instant marriage proposal.

As whirlwind romances go Samantha and Jason's is positively a hurricane which has surprised most of their friends.

Although they have known each other for the two months that 21-year-old Jason has been the DJ in residence at the Walmsley Arms Hotel, in High Street, Rishton, the pair had never made amorous approaches to each other until Sunday night.

The following morning they announced they were engaged to be married!

"I had thought about asking him out before but never got round to it," said 28-year-old Samantha, of Alan Critchley Way, Rishton. "After work on Sunday we had a few drinks and then went back to a friend's house. We got talking about relationships and Jason asked me to marry him." A silent 10 minutes followed before the stunned Samantha accepted.

"I never thought about her saying no," said Jason, of Shuttleworth Street, Rishton. "I just asked her and I'm glad she said yes."

The pair said such impulsive behaviour was not like them but said they were directly in the firing line of Cupid's arrow.

"I didn't believe in love at first sight but this definitely was," said Samantha. "I don't know what it is about Jason but there is something there. We get on so well."

Jason and Samantha have since been busy organising the big day which is provisionally pencilled in for December 15 at Accrington Register Office -- the first available date.

"We would have got married tomorrow if we could," said Samantha, who has chosen matchmaking mate Glenda and four-year-old daughter Kristen as bridesmaids.

The next stage is to tell their parents.

"I rang my dad yesterday but he wasn't in," said Samantha. "He'll probably be a bit shocked but happy for me."

A spokesman for Accrington Register Office today confirmed that a couple had approached them about a wedding on that date and an appointment was being made.

Alan Hodge, district sales manager for Thwaites, said he was delighted that one of the brewery's pub played Cupid for Samantha and Jason.