HE sang about the Greatest Day – and that was definitely the case for a York-born Gary Barlow fan whose university sweetheart proposed to her on stage with the help of the Take That star himself.

Paul Cody, 26, a charity worker for Sue Ryder, stunned his girlfriend Caroline Davy, who works for the Alzheimer’s Society, by arranging to pop the question in front of thousands of people at the Hammersmith Apollo during Barlow’s concert this week.

The singer-matchmaker arranged seats near the front for the couple, who are both from Rawcliffe, York, and now live in St Albans, and for his security team to lead Paul on to stage. When Caroline was invited to join them, Paul proposed as Gary – who will be invited to their wedding next year – serenaded them with a rendition of Take That’s hit A Million Love Songs, followed by a slow dance.

“It was the most romantic night of my life – I was completely overwhelmed and my legs were shaking because I couldn’t believe it was happening,” said Caroline, 26, whose parents Denise and Brian still live in York.

“It was like a dream and it only began to feel real when we were mobbed by people offering their congratulations on the Tube home. My mum, who designed the ring, is a big fan too and as she didn’t know how Paul was going to pop the question, she just screamed down the phone. Paul is normally quite reserved, so I am simply blown away.”