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7pm, Tuesday - LOVE sick farmers might think they are more likely to stumble across corn than cuddles in Lincolnshire.
But one entrepreneur living near Horncastle has come up with a way to help narrow the search for romance so it won't be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Self-styled cupid James Vestbirk, who lives in Ashby Puerorum and went to school in Tetford and Woodhall Spa, has combined his agricultural roots from a third generation farming family, his degree in marketing, and connections in the world of web design to launch a rural online dating site.
"After being away at university in Newcastle, I didn't have many friends left here," he said.
"People tend to move away but I'm 23 years old and at the peak of when I should be going out.
"But I found it difficult to meet new people. Living in rural areas, it's very hard to break out of the circles you are in."
Rather than sit back and become a fully-fledged member of the lonely hearts club, James launched kissinggates.com in October.
The website aims to bring together like-minded countryside-loving people who may not find the love of their life in the local pub – and it worked for James, who found girlfriend Emma Davies after just seven weeks.
So what do James's family think about his rural venture?
"They all think it's quite funny," he said.
"My mum Heather actually came up with the name and when we looked in to it, it just seemed so perfect. The legend is when there are two people on either side of the gate, the person in front refuses to let them pass until the second person has given them a kiss.
"Plus it went really well with the rural theme."
James's venture comes after the Forestry Commission launched its series of singles walks in Chambers Farm Wood near Wragby earlier this year.
The idea behind the walks is to encourage people to meet new friends and forge relationships while out enjoying the woodland beauty spot.
* Details: www.kissinggates.com
* Is it tough to find your perfect partner in the countryside? Did you do anything unusual to meet the love of your life? Email sean.topham@jpress.co.uk or write to the Editor, Horncastle News, Church Lane, Horncastle LN9 5HW.
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Weather for Horncastle
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
