Darren Elliott and Rachael McNaughton got engaged on Santa’s sleigh at Birmingham New Street station just before Christmas.

Watched by Santa and Mrs Claus, and some of New Street’s passengers, Darren proposed to Rachael in Santa’s sleigh. The couple had travelled to Birmingham for the evening to visit the Frankfurt German Markets with friends. Darren had planned to pop the question at the Christmas markets, but changed his plans when he saw Santa and his sleigh in New Street station.

Rachael and Darren have been together for three years and both hail from Essex, where Rachael works in finance and Darren is a ground worker. They plan to marry within three years, and are going into the new year celebrating their engagement.

Birmingham-based events and producing company OPUS (Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces) ran the Mr and Mrs Claus meet-and-greet experience at weekends throughout December (except for Christmas Eve). The Clauses stationed themselves under the Departure Boards on the main concourse of New Street station, and with a friendly North Pole Express Train Conductor, gave guests a free polaroid picture as a memento.

Darren said: “Rachael just loves Christmas and this couldn’t have worked out any better. We were with our friends when I spotted Santa’s sleigh and we then realised the photographer was our friend’s wedding photographer, so it was easy to get her over there without any questions. Better still, we would have a photo to remember it by! I was extremely nervous knowing I was going to propose to such a beautiful girl but she’s absolutely the one for me”.

Rachael who said yes to the proposal said: “I was completely shocked yet over the moon! He did so well with the surprise and beautiful ring! I’m so happy for our future together and the celebrations yet to come. Darren really is the perfect guy for me.”

Craig Stenning, Network Rail station manager at Birmingham New Street, said: “The meet and greet experience with Mr and Mrs Claus has been really popular at the station throughout December and we were delighted that Darren chose this as his backdrop for their special moment. On behalf of everyone at Network Rail and New Street station, I’d like to wish them a happy engagement and all the best for the future.”