Love could be in the air after a local press Valentine’s Day appeal raised over £500 for the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

Would-be suitors were invited to donate to the appeal being run by the Royal Borough Observer in exchange for the chance to win a date with its reporter Inderdeep Bains.

Local hotel manager Kaviraj Johal was picked from the hat and not only enjoyed the journalist’s company in a fancy restaurant but also won a spa day, tickets to see Reading FC and Ascot races and a bash at ice rink go-karting among a host of prizes.

The minimum donation to enter the draw was £20 and the grand total now sits at over £500 including offline contributions and gift aid.

Inderdeep, who has agreed to go to Ascot with her date, said: “It was a very nice evening and Kaviraj was a real gentleman.

“Everyone has been very generous and supportive of our fundraiser and it is great that we’ve been able to raise £500 for such a worthy cause.”

Although the competition is now over, the appeal is still running and donations can be made at JustGiving.com.