Mr Bishop, from Royston, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, replied: "Tell me more."

After a flurry of text messages between Mr Bishop and Jo Hartley, 28, of Leicester, romance blossomed and the pair will tie the knot next Saturday.

The love affair began in April 2001 when Miss Hartley mistakenly sent the joke text message to his phone.

She said: "I was supposed to send a message to a mate at work and I had written his number down but got it wrong by one digit and it landed on Paul's phone.

"I've no idea how we got to this stage. The message could have landed on anyone's phone.

"But we are just so well matched that it seems like it must be fate or something."

Text memento

The couple still have the original text message as a memento of their chance romance.

Mr Bishop said: "I was slightly surprised to say the least when I received the text.

"I assumed somebody had got the wrong number but just for a laugh sent a message back.

"I never believed in fate before, but I definitely do now."

The couple will marry at St John the Baptist Church in Royston before flying to the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon.

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