THIRTY-somethings Karen Madgwick and Dave Collins are tying the knot exactly one year after being introduced by a dating agency.

The couple, who are both divorced, met last July through Elite Introductions, based in Chesham. Karen, from Rickmansworth, and Dave from Amersham, started dating after Karen chose Dave, a sales manager, from a set of personal profiles sent to her by Elite. They had each paid £475 to register on the agency's books.

Architect, Karen said she was attracted to Dave's details as they shared similar interests such as travel and an ambition to find a serious relationship.

She said: "We got on well right from the start. We met in a pub and ended up chatting for several hours. We started going out on a regular basis and that was it.

"I told most of my friends I was using a dating agency and they were all for it, but you always get a few that will give you a funny look. Unless we had met this way we would have never have met at all as we do not mix in the same circles."

Karen said the icing on the cake is that the pair are expecting a baby in February. She said: "It's what we both wanted so it couldn't have worked out better."

The couple will be married at Missenden Abbey, Great Missenden on July 19.

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