A COUPLE who fell in love and married after a chance meeting on a coach were stunned to board the same vehicle with the same driver two years on.

Geoff and Patricia Lambert, who live in New Zealand, were in for a whirlwind romance when they boarded a coach neither were planning to use back in 2015.

After recently returning the the UK, the now happily-married couple were amazed to board the same service to find it was the exact same vehicle and driver, Arron Slater - who they recognised instantly.

The miracle journey on the 250 from Heathrow Airport to Colchester was just the latest turn in the couple’s love story, which began by complete coincidence.

Geoff, who is originally from Suffolk, said: “We met for the very first time on a National Express service that neither of us had planned to be on that day.

“I had flown in from New Zealand to see family and friends in Colchester and managed to clear customs in time for me to catch an earlier coach.”

Patricia, who lived in Colchester before the move abroad, didn’t initially plan to catch the service after a day trip to Southend.

However, fate had plans for her.

She said: “I had decided to stay over the previous night with family, so was going home a day later than originally planned and by a fluke I ended up sitting next to Geoff.

“We chatted, exchanged phone numbers and saw a lot of each other over the next few weeks.

“We got on so well that I decided I should buy a ticket to New Zealand - and the rest is history.”

Love blossomed and the couple now live happily in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand’s North Island.

Patricia added: “Surprise, surprise we now advise all our single friends in the UK to get out of their car and take a coach instead.”

Coach driver Arron Slater said: “As a coach driver you welcome all sorts of people on board, all of which have their own stories.

“But it’s amazing to think that this particular journey was the start of an amazing love story.

“When we set out on the 250 that day we had no idea it would change people’s lives forever and it’s great to have played a part in it.”

Romantic Arron added: “I’ve got a taste for playing cupid now and hopefully I can help others find love too.”