A bride-to-be has spoken about the memorable moment in which her fiance proposed by spelling out ‘Will you marry me?’ in 900 tealights in pitch-black Gladstone Park – a romantic gesture spotted by a passing police helicopter and spread via social media.

Meena Rabadia was blown away when boyfriend Utpal Kanbi got down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage in front of the glowing backdrop in Gladstone Park in Dollis Hill, north west London, on Saturday evening.

The innovative way Mr Kanbi popped the question went viral over the Bank Holiday weekend as a Metropolitan Police helicopter passing overhead by pure chance saw the lights and took a photograph from the sky.

The team onboard Tweeted: “We think we have just seen the most romantic guy in north london. More later ! #willyoumarryme?” to the @MPSinthesky account’s 96,000 followers and the story was picked up by national news outlets.

PROPOSAL: The proposal written out in tea lights in Gladstone Park.

Ms Rabadia, 24, of Review Road, Neasden, said: “It was amazing, it was such a great surprise.

“It was great seeing the helicopter hovering over the park, they actually shone a light over the candles which illuminated it even more.

“We were both so surprised the proposal got so much attention it was so amazing. I am really excited for the wedding now. We haven’t set a date but we will be having a big Indian wedding.”

She said Mr Kanbi, 23, of Wembley, had asked friends and family to spell out the big question using candles while he distracted his future wife.

Ms Rabadia, who used to attend John Kelly Girls’ Technology College in Crest Road, Neasden, now called The Crest Girls’ Academy, said: “He took me shopping and was hanging around a bit.

“I was saying: ‘Come on, what are we doing?’ Then he said he wanted to go for a walk in the park, so I said okay as it’s really close.

“When we got there I was a bit scared as it was quite dark but then I saw lights and that’s when it happened.

“It was such a sweet proposal, I really wasn’t expecting anything that amazing.

“I saw a group of people as I got closer and it was my family and friends.”

Ms Rabadia, who works in digital marketing as well as being a hairstylist and a makeup artist, has been in a relationship with electrician and graphic designer Mr Kanbi for six years.

They met at Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Willesden Lane, Willesden, and started messaging one another on online messaging service MSN, and love blossomed.

The couple have an Indian engagement planned for November but have not set a date for their wedding yet.