Anxious pub landlord Alan Burgess is worried about whether girlfriend Miranda Baxendale will propose to him on February 29 -- the day women traditionally pop the question.

Mr Burgess, of The Turnpike in Woodstock Road, Yarnton, and Bob Maher, of The Trout in Godstow Road, Wolvercote, have commissioned special spoons to encourage women to take advantage of the leap year date.

Both pubs use decorative spoons to mark their table numbers.

The spoons are etched with the words "Will you marry me?" on one side and the date and name of the pub running on the stem.

Mr Burgess said: "It is not an everyday event and we felt that if a local woman was planning to follow the old tradition then we should make a place for it in our history.

"The spoon will be the only one of its kind ever created and will be for the person to keep, marking the date, question and the venue where it happened.

"Women planning to propose should contact me and the first one will get the spoon brought to their table on February 29."

Would-we proposers can call Mr Burgess on 01865 847666 or Mr Maher on 01865 302071.