They are both in their eighties and when they found themselves sitting next to each other at a pantomime their friendship developed into a fairytale romance - oh yes it did!Just as in the age-old story of Cinderella, they were watching at the Norwich Theatre Royal, 82-year-old widow Pat Watts found her Prince Charming in 85-year-old Bert Kirk.

They are both in their eighties and when they found themselves sitting next to each other at a pantomime their friendship developed into a fairytale romance - oh yes it did!

Just as in the age-old story of Cinderella, they were watching at the Norwich Theatre Royal, 82-year-old widow Pat Watts found her Prince Charming in 85-year-old Bert Kirk.

And on Saturday their fairytale romance will have a happy ending when they marry at St Anthony's Church at Fakenham in a traditional ceremony attended by their family and friends.

And the new Mrs Kirk won't have to move far to her marital home as her fiancé just lives next door at All Saints Close, Briston.

Romance has certainly put a spring in Pat's step and she even took the opportunity of this leap year to pop the question to Bert.

That pantomime date was two years a go and since then Pat and Bert's friendship gradually developed into love.

“I remember one evening Bert called with a prescription he had collected for me and he gave me a little kiss and I quite liked that,” said Pat, who has been a widow for 19 years.

Pat revealed that they decided to get engaged at the end of last year and Bert gave her an eternity ring in November as an early Christmas present.

“That eternity ring became an engagement ring,” she said.

Pat considers herself a traditionalist and didn't want to live with Bert before they were married.

“We have bought a new double bed with a five-year guarantee and Bert is keeping my side warm for me,” she joked, with a twinkle in her eye.

“I really feel so lucky to have got together with Bert. He is such a gentleman and so kind to me. Neither of us were looking for marriage but our romance just developed,” she said.

She added : “It is lovely because all our family and friends our so happy for us and we have arranged a mini bus to take our neighbours to the wedding on Saturday morning.

“We are having a family lunch at the Wensum Lodge in Fakenham and an evening party at the sheltered complex where we live.”

Then it will be off on honeymoon to Great Yarmouth with Bert at the wheel of his Fiat Panda car.

While Pat is keeping details of her wedding outfit a secret until the big day, she did reveal that she will be topping her outfit with a saucy hat with a feather in it.