A farmer used his bride-to-be's favourite cow to help with his marriage proposal.

Before Chris Gospel, of Strichen, Aberdeenshire, got down on one knee in a field to ask for Eilidh Fraser's hand in marriage, his cow, Curlytop, had started off the proceedings.

As Eilidh walked into the field, she could only see a bit of the writing on the cow's side.

By the time she worked out what the writing said - "will you marry me?" - 30-year-old Chris was on down on one knee.

"She was a star. The writing was on the side and as were were walking up she was facing us," he said.

"Eilidh could see something written on the side but not what it was.

"Curlytop came up to us and then turned.

"By the time Eilidh read it I was down on one knee and proposed."

The microbiologist said yes to his proposal, and shared the happy news on social media with a picture of the ring on her finger and Curlytop's message in the background.

Chris said he got his inspiration from a similar stunt he had seen online.

While admitting he was nervous, he said the whole thing was "typical" of his sense of humour.

Curlytop is the 30-year-old bride-to-be's favourite out of the cattle and she is seen more like a pet.

Mr Gospel said Curlytop would get an invite to the wedding, but was unsure whether it would be accepted.

He added: "She's still not forgiven me for writing on her."