A SOLDIER left a heart-rending message to his girlfriend and asked her to marry him – but dialled the wrong number.

The unknown serviceman, who may have been calling from Afghanistan because he talked of a friend being blown up, thought he was leaving the message on the phone of his beloved, Samantha.

But he had mis-dialled and had actually got through to the phone of 44-year-old Diane Potts, of Whickham, Gateshead.

Ms Potts, an alternative therapist, had just got home from work last Thursday evening when she found the message on her landline. She hopes the publicity will alert the girlfriend to respond to the soldier.

She said: “From the way the young chap was talking it was clear he was a soldier.

“He spoke with a regional accent, it was a Sunderland accent, but it wasn’t all that easy to tell.

“He sounded really, really young, only about 18. I think he probably dialled incorrectly, and that his girlfriend’s number is similar to mine.

“His girlfriend must be having a baby and I really hope she gets in touch.”

During the call the soldier says: “I should be back in three months so we can be together then.

“One of my guys has just been blown up, so I feel sad, I really feel sad.

“I feel so sad that I did not get to speak to you just now but I will speak to you next month.

“Don’t ever forget I love you, I love you so much, I love you with all my heart and I was going to ask you, don’t answer, obviously you can’t answer, but will you marry me?

“I love you and I am really sad I did not get a chance to speak to you today, but you know I love you don’t you, I love you with all my heart.’’ “I do not know what to say babes.

“I can’t wait until you give birth to my baby, my little soldier.”