ROMANTIC Mickey Earle was in‘spired’ to make a high level proposal when he went down on one knee on the top of the tower at Salisbury Cathedral.

The 22-year-old popped the question to his girlfriend Lorna Allan, 25, during a private tower tour and reached an all time high when she said ‘yes.’ With the sapphire and diamond ring safely smuggled in Mickey’s pocket, the couple climbed the 332 steps to the base of the cathedral spire, 225ft up.

When they finally stepped out onto the viewing area Mickey was trembling but said it had nothing to do with the height.

“I was shaking the whole time and kept clutching the ring to make sure I had it safe,” he said.

“I knew what a special place the cathedral was to Lorna and I thought the tower would be the perfect place to ask her to marry me.”

Lorna, whose dad Robert Allan works in the finance department at the cathedral, said the proposal took her breath away but she said ‘yes’ immediately.

The couple are thinking about marrying in June next year.

Although the bells from the ancient tower might be long gone, the new ring on the top caused plenty of excitement.

“We made a few calls to our families and friends from the top of the tower to tell them the good news,” Lorna said.

“Everyone was very pleased for us.

“I think the tower will be the perfect place to go back to for anniversaries.”

The couple’s guide Caroline Waldman had been told of Mickey’s soaring intentions but had been sworn to secrecy.

Lorna had no idea that Mickey was going to propose,” she said. “It was a wonderfully happy afternoon.”

When they got their feet back on the ground, the happy couple signed the visitor’s book where Lorna wrote: “Mickey proposed and I said yes. I’m a very happy girl with a very pretty ring.”

The couple, who met two years ago on the volleyball court at Chichester University, where Lorna is studying maths and teaching, are now busy planning their big day which will take place in Bournemouth where the bride-to-be grew up.