​Love was in the air for a young couple who took to the skies in a hot air balloon – and came back engaged.

Ashley Howell, 21, had told his girlfriend of five years that he did not believe in marriage and would never utter the words “I do”.

So Zara Williams was completely surprised when he pulled out a ring in the middle of their hot air balloon ride and popped the question.

The couple, from Brockworth, met at school five years ago and have been together ever since.

Ashley, a builder and roofer, said: “We’ve just had a little baby boy. I thought it was the right thing to do and proposing in a hot air balloon is a nice gesture.

“I only thought of it a week ago and had a ring ready for when we were in the air.

“She was completely surprised. She was emotional and started crying. The ring was a perfect fit.”

The pair, who met at Churchdown School, expanded their family when Cody was born two months ago.

Zara, 20, who works for The Citizen as a sales representative, said: “We met in the playground when two of our friends were dating each other and have been together a long time, but he said he didn’t ever want to get married.

“Then he just pulled the ring out of his pocket, gave it to me and said ‘Will you marry me?’ I was shocked and just cried.

“It was amazing being proposed to in a hot air balloon. It was so romantic.”

Ashley was given the trip for two in the balloon as a 21st birthday present and decided it was the perfect opportunity to get engaged.

But the Brockworth man was not the only one to propose during the ride over the Malvern Hills.

Of the 12 passengers on board, two couples got engaged during the 80-minute trip.

Ashley said: “It’s strange because the pilot said they only get one or two engagements a year, not two in one ride.”