Mr Smith says Llangollen is the ideal place to launch his lovespoons

The new lovespoons have been made for same sex couples who want to make a loving gesture on the most romantic day of the year.

The idea is the brainchild of shopkeeper Christopher Smith from Llangollen.

The custom of carving and giving Welsh lovespoons dates back to the 17th century.

Originally, they were made by young men as a token of their love and affection for their girlfriends.

However, Mr Smith thinks it is time the tradition moved into the 21st Century.

His latest wooden lovespoons have two intertwined gender symbols to denote the gay and lesbian versions.

"All living traditions need to evolve and I thought that this would be a natural progression for the Welsh lovespoon," he said.

Mr Smith, who runs Cottage Cards and Crafts said Llangollen is the ideal place to launch the spoons.

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"One reason is the true story of the Ladies of Llangollen who eloped from Ireland in 1778 and settled in an idyllic cottage in the town.

"Amid some scandal and innuendo, their relationship blossomed and they were visited by writers and intellectuals including Wordsworth, Edmund Burke and Sir Walter Scott.

"Although nobody knows for certain whether their relationship was a sexual one, the Ladies of Llangollen are revered today as icons for the lesbian and gay community."

The idea has also been greeted enthusiastically by the lesbian and gay magazine, Fyne Times.

"It's wonderful that something like this has been directed at same sex couples," said the magazine's spokeswoman Jill Rayner.

"I think these lovespoons are really going to take off," she added.