A FORMER Warrington Wolves player has shared his unique engagement story after losing the ring at the bottom of a lake.

Jason Roach, 47, planned to propose to his girlfriend Francesca Frodsham, 27, while on a romantic getaway near the Forest of Bowland.

Jason, who now works in special care after retiring 20 years ago, meticulously planned a surprise three-night stay in a luxury tree house in Cleveley Mere where he intended to propose to his girlfriend.

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An unsuspecting Francesca thought this was a birthday treat and they enjoyed a day exploring the beautiful countryside.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian: The tree house Jason booked for the surprise engagementThe tree house Jason booked for the surprise engagement

Jason said: "After dinner, I walked down to the boat house with glasses and bottle of wine in hand.

"It had been raining early and the decking on the pier was slippy, I slid, dropped my phone and broke a glass cutting my shin open and nearly fell in the lake."

Seeing the funny side to his bad luck, Jason picked himself back up and decided the pair would row out onto the lake.

When they reached the middle of the water, he popped the question while playing Bruno Mars' 'Marry You' on his phone.

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A delighted Francesca said 'yes' and Jason thought everything had finally gone to plan.

Deciding to keep the ring safe because it was slightly too big, Francesca placed it in Jason's T-shirt pocket which proved a disastrous mistake.

As Jason stepped out of the boat and helped his fiancé onto the shore, the ring slipped out of his pocket and into the deep lake.

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He said: "I had to laugh, all the planning and effort to make it romantically perfect all went downhill in one gentlemanly bend.

"You think it would ruin our engagement it didn't, it made our engagement as it's our story and we laugh about it all our friends work colleagues and Facebook friends have laughed.

"You would have thought I would be good at holding onto things with my hands!"

The pair tried desperately for two days to retrieve the ring but to no avail.

Nevertheless, Jason and Francesca both saw the funny side to the series of unfortunate events and ring number two was ordered and made to fit.

The couple are hoping to get married within the next two years.