LOVE FACTORY

In which the North Derbyshire town of New Mills, is a confectionery company, Swizzels Matlow that makes the sweets covered with love messages. This family firm claims that 122 of its 500 workers are in a relationship with each other and that this puts it in the running for "most romantic workplace in Britain."

The company released data just a few days before St Valentine's Day, the key selling period for the little sweets. But Swizzels Matlow suggested anyone who questioned the motives behind releasing the figures were hard-hearted cynics.

Jeremy Dee, director at the company, said: "I think it's a lovely story that so many people met here. We knew anecdotally that many were either married to each other or going out with each other, but we just did a quick ask around to find out how many were together. It's a very close-knit place.”