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Romeo reporter's night of 'textual love'

A lonely-heart reporter tried his luck at a mobile phone speed-dating service in the hope of finding love.

Western Gazette journalist Andrew Wakefield adapted his writing skills with the aim of attracting women via a private WAP chat room on his mobile.

The service, run by O2, allows users to swap mobile phone numbers for a “night of textual love” after ten minutes in the chat room.

After being rejected by several women, Andrew toned down the saucy nature of his nickname and began to have his requests for conversations accepted.

Eventually, a fellow chatter asked for his mobile number. Andrew told readers: “On an impulse of textual passion, I gave out my number and we began to text each other.

“Greeted with the words ‘areyougoodlookin?’ I dutifully replied ‘sxy bdy, brn hair, blu eys, wt abt u?’

“I realised the text lover must use shortened messages to get his point across as quickly as possible and keep his companion interested.”

After two weeks of text messages and phone calls, Andrew met the mystery lady who, he reported, “was not accompanied by a husband, was not a man with a high-pitched voice, and had not oversold herself”.

Andrew said: “We met at the train station and went out for a few drinks. I didn’t know what to expect but it’s still going on and is a possible relationship.

“Everyone thinks it’s quite funny and seem quite intrigued as to how it all works. I think they were quite amazed it worked out.”

Andrew had previously tried his luck at a speed-dating event in Weymouth but was left disappointed when the only women he took an interest in turned out to be journalists from the Dorset Echo also looking for a story.

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