THE nominations are coming in thick and fast in the hunt to find the most romantic couples in Dorset. Local firm Condor Ferries has embarked on a search to find five of the region's most loved-up couples. The chosen twosomes will be taken from Weymouth to the Channel Islands on an unforgettable day trip - complete with lunch and free champagne. Incidentally asked people who reckon their friends, family or work colleagues deserve a berth on the Condor love boat' to let the Dorset Echo know. This is the latest batch of romantic entries...

LOVEBIRDS Doug and Diane Thorne would adore a spot on board the love boat to Guernsey - because it's where they first met.

Son Mark said that the couple met while working as actors on the island back in 1965 and were married the next year.

He says his parents used to visit Guernsey annually - but haven't been for the last two years because of their limited income and rising travel costs.

"It would be great, they would really enjoy it," he said. "They love Guernsey and it's where they first met, so obviously it's a very special place for them."

Doug, from Weymouth, and Diane, originally from Wales, were both working as professional actors at the Little Theatre on Guernsey when they met.

She beat off stiff competition from other leading ladies on the production to win his heart and they got engaged on the last night of the season.

They carried on working in the drama field and settled in Weymouth, where Doug took the house manager job at the town's pavilion.

The proud grandparents have now been happily married for 42 years.

Mark said the twosome, of Southill, Weymouth, used to make a point of returning to Guernsey annually to visit Diane's aunt.

"They don't go very much at all any more," he said. "They're not the most well off of people.

"They're always looking for a bargain and they like to save their pennies. But they'd love to go again."

Diane, 66, who now volunteers for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, said she instantly fell for Doug, now 70, when they first laid eyes on each other.

"I really did quite like him," she said. "He was very tall and I was quite short but as long as he looked down and could see me we were okay!

"I used to holiday with my aunt on Guernsey a lot and I love the atmosphere of the island.

"Doug fell in love with it as well because it reminds him of Weymouth, they're quite similar.

"We won't build our hopes up too much but we'd love to go back again. We haven't been for the last couple of years and we're very fond of the place."

Still so much in love after 40 years
TREVOR and Kitty Martin may have been married for 40 years but they still look at each other with love in their eyes.

Daughter Nicole says her parents deserve a spot on the love boat because they have been through so much together - and always bounce back smiling.

Nicole, 25, said: "Winning this trip would mean the world to them."

Trevor - who served in the parachute regiment of the British Army - and Kitty - who is originally from Scotland - have five children in all, Nicole being the youngest.

Nicole said: "With dad being in the army they spent long periods away from each other but I could never ever see them separating. Every day it still surprises me to see my parents so in love."

The couple emigrated to New Zealand in 1993 but were forced to return to Weymouth when Trevor's step-mum was diagnosed with cancer.

They went back Down Under in 2000 but again had to return when Trevor, 60, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Kitty, 58, began suffering health problems.

Trevor has now been forced to medically retire but Kitty still works in Morrisons in Weymouth.

Nicole said: "They had to leave family and friends over there. They have settled back here but at times they do miss people.

"They have moved around so much in their lives but whatever they've gone through they have always come out of it together, still going strong."

The couple, of Jestys Avenue, Weymouth, suffered more heartache in 2006 when Nicole's sister nearly died giving birth to their granddaughter at 29 weeks.

"In the last five years it feels like they've had so much thrown at them and they still come up smiling.

She added: "It would be a fantastic and unforgettable trip to have for their 40th anniversary."

Falklands love birds deserve a surprise
PROUD mum Christine White reckons her son Matthew and his girlfriend are worthy of a love boat berth because they are a most romantic couple'.

Matthew and Chilean sweetheart Isabel Apablaza met in June 2004 while they were both working, for different firms, in the Falkland Isles.

Mrs White, from Crossways near Dorchester, said: "Many glances were exchanged, I understand, and one thing led to another."

When Matthew, 33, completed his contract in the Falklands he headed to Chile for a holiday, where he met Isabel's family.

The senior installation design engineer in communications then returned to Dorchester - and Isabel later followed so the two could be together.

She volunteered at the county town's RSPCA charity shop before taking up a position in the accounts department at Goulds.

Mrs White said she would love to see the happy couple handed a spot on the Condor love boat.

She added: "He's always doing things like this for me so I thought I would return the favour.

"Hopefully it'll be a nice surprise for both of them."

Couples long for romantic voyage
OTHER love boat nominations to arrive in the Incidentally mailbox this week include Portland lovebirds Chris Williams and Catherine Watch.

Catherine's mum Gill said the couple have been through a lot recently - the death of Chris's dad, the break-up of his mum's marriage and the ill health of his grandad.

She said: "They've also had major problems with improvement work on their house, all of which has contributed to continued stress."

Last year Chris and Catherine had a baby boy, Finley, who celebrates his first birthday this week.

And Gill added: "It would be lovely for them to enjoy a little good luck. Winning a romantic Condor break would hopefully be the start of much better things."

Tony and Yvonne Adams, from West Lulworth, also got in touch to put themselves forward for a berth.

Yvonne, 67, said the couple are keen adventurers who have visited spots across the globe including Rome, Crete, Sicily, Corsica and New England.

She said: "I've never been to Jersey, and I hear it's a lovely place. I'd love to go.

"We fight like mad all the time, yet after 45 years we still love adventure rogether.

"Tony doesn't know I'm writing but I'd like to vote us for a berth on the love boat to extend our adventures."

And John Osment, from Bournemouth, nominated his parents Geraldine and Jeff, who are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary this year.

He said: "When my dad had to have heart bypass surgery 18 months ago they gave each other new gold wedding rings engraved with a heartbeat.

"You don't get more loved-up than that! And they still hold hands when out walking together."/b>