SHE thought they were just going out for a birthday meal but Francesca Coyne's boyfriend had a special surprise planned.

The couple, who live in Padgate, were celebrating Francesca's 29th birthday with friends and family at Nando's in Golden Square last night, Friday.

But as Francesca and her boyfriend, Mick Lagar, left the restaurant they were greeted by a group of dancers from StagePro Academy who gave a spontaneous dance performance of Michael Jackson's The Way You Make Me Feel.

What Francesca didn't know is that Mick had asked the dancers to help him pop the question.

As the music changed to Bruno Mars' song Marry You, Mick got down on one knee.

Francesca's mum said everybody including the staff at Nando's had been excited about the surprise.

She said: "I think Mick wanted to do something different like a bit of a flash mob. It should be quite memorable for them.

"He likes dancing to anything and she's a drama graduate so I knew she would love it."

StagePro stepped forward to help the groom-to-be plan the proposal with just two days notice.

She said: "StagePro have been great, we just rang around and they said they would love to help."

Francesca, who works with disabled people for the charity MacIntyre, was in tears as Mick got down on one knee.

Onlookers cheered and shouted 'she said yes' as the couple hugged.

And it wasn't the only shopping centre wedding proposal to take place at the weekend as a dancing flashmob also helped another man in Runcorn pop the question.