A NEWPORT woman took leap of faith yesterday and popped the question to her surprised boyfriend on a snowy hillside.

Beverley Strachan grew tired of waiting for her partner of 15 years, Wayne James, to get down on bended knee - so she did it herself.

The 32-year-old social worker proposed yesterday in keeping with leap year tradition.

Under a giant banner which read: "Wayne, Will You Marry Me?" and surrounded by family and friends, the 40-year-old said "yes".

Pals gave the couple a round of applause and toasted the occasion with Champagne and a barbecue.

Beverley, from Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, pulled out all the stops to make the proposal at Forest Drive as romantic as possible.

"This is our special place," she said. "We always come here for walks and it's so beautiful. I knew if I was going to propose, it would have to be here."

Beverley knew Wayne was the man for her.

She earlier said: "I'm so clumsy and he's so practical. He fixes everything I break."

Beverley's friends rallied round to help tie the banner between two trees at a barbecue area.

Wayne was told they were going up the mountain to have a surprise birthday for their friend, Steve Gething.

But Wayne saw the banner as he and Beverley walked up the path and was speechless.

Beverley got down on one knee, recorded the moment with a video camera, and proposed.

He later told the Argus: "I knew something was up and I had a feeling she would do this."

Did he hesitate before agreeing? "Yes!" he said.

"It's the same old story, I've been there and done that."

Wayne is divorced from his first wife and vowed never to get married again.

After courting Beverley for 15 years, Wayne was asked how long it would be before they tied the knot. "Another 15 years," he joked.

Beverley then presented Wayne with matching engagement rings and read him poem. She said: "I was starting to panic but everything worked out.

"We'll hopefully get married within the next year or two."