FARMER Stephen Boow was a bit too sheepish to get down one knee when he proposed to long-term girlfriend Sandra Woodhead at Christmas.

Instead, Mr Boow, aged 41, enlisted the help of some of Miss Woodhead’s most prized possessions - her livestock - in a stunt which has been the talk of the village ever since.

Somewhat apt for a couple who are both from agricultural stock in Bootle, he assembled Miss Woodhead’s sheep, which she keeps at Mr Boow’s Corney Hall Farm.

When she went out to milk cows at a neighbouring farm in the early hours of the morning December 25, he spray-painted her ewes with the words ‘Will’, ‘You’, ‘Marry’ and ‘Me?’.

“I got a phone call while I was out saying one of my sheep was ill, and I better come quick,” said Miss Woodhead, aged 27.

“When I went into the shed, my sheep were running around and I didn’t know what was going on at first.

“As soon as I saw the word ‘Marry’, that was it. I was completely gobsmacked and definitely wasn’t expecting it.”

Mr Boow had followed closely behind, and she was able to give him an answer - "ewe bet".

As a handy reminder to get planning for a wedding, the sheep, now lambing, still have the words on them. Known affectionately as P7 - the stock number when she bought it - and Gem-Gem, her two favourite sheep, are likely to bear the message until clipping season in March.

Miss Woodend, who works at Corney Hall Farm and her family’s Hyton Farm, said: “He made sure he used my favourites when he was proposing. They’re still running around with their spray paint on.

“It was pretty perfect really. I love sheep; Stephen loves sheep - he has loads of them. Everyone in the village has been talking about it.”

The couple, who picked an engagement ring this week, have known one another for decades, as Miss Woodend’s father owns fields next to Mr Boow’s.

The big day is likely to be next year, but Miss Woodend is still getting over the shock of this romantic gesture, which reads like an episode of T he Archers , and has yet to set a date.

Jim Woodend, aged 55, dad of the bride-to-be, said: “I didn’t know until they told me; it’s a bit old-fashioned asking the father’s permission any way.

“It was a nice way to do it. Stephen has a lot of sheep himself and they are both from farming families so it’s very fitting.”