AT THE start of this year, Richard Pickles had no girlfriend, had never been to France and thought the French were arrogant.

Now he's getting married after a whirlwind romance, has also fallen in love with the French and is buying a property in the heart of France to start a new life abroad.

Going with him to a village near Limoges will be Angela Brown, his two children Benjamin and Lee, and their dog and three cats.

Richard, 44, of Selby Road, Riccall, near Selby, told today how his life changed dramatically after he met Angela, 41, from Scarborough, via an internet dating agency earlier this year. They fell in love after several meetings and decided to get married on September 7.

Angela suggested they should move abroad and asked him: "What do you think of France?"

Richard wasn't certain at first. "I had never been there in my life," he said, adding what he thought of the French blockading ports and he considered them to be arrogant.

But seven weeks ago, the couple went on holiday to the Limoges area to see what it was like, and Richard could not believe just how helpful and friendly everyone was towards them. "It amazed me. They couldn't have been more helpful," he said.

The huge difference in property prices between the two countries also persuaded him to make the move. He put his North Yorkshire home on the market for £300,000, and bought three cottages near Limoges for a fraction of that price. The family will live in one, and they plan to convert the two adjacent properties into holiday cottages to rent out.

The language difference should not prove too much of a problem. Angela speaks fluent French, and Richard plans to learn the language.

Updated: 12:21 Thursday, August 29, 2002