LOOKING for love in rural areas of Lincolnshire can be harder than finding a needle in a haystack – especially if you're a single man sitting in a pub waiting for a woman to walk in.

And the chances of men finding a date in the county are very low as they outnumber women by some 13,000.

Figures for the county also show that nearly a quarter of households are single occupancy while marriage rates among the under-30s are falling.

But love has not been lost for one man who launched a dating website – and found himself a date.

Rural entrepreneur James Vestbirk, from Horncastle, launched the www.kissinggates.com site after becoming a reluctant member of a self-styled lonely hearts club, spending his evenings in the pub waiting in vain for love.

"I came home from Newcastle University to learn the farming industry and I quickly realised how hard it is to meet new people in close-knit rural communities, particularly single girls," said James (23).

"Sadly, my only regular dates were with a group of male drinking companions, just as frustrated as me about the lack of romantic opportunities. And it's not just the young guys – the oldest was 53."

Just seven weeks after launching the website James found himself a girlfriend. Emma Davies, from South Yorkshire, signed up after moving to Market Rasen just last year.

She said: "I'd never been on an online dating site before so I was naturally nervous. But when I got talking to James I soon discovered we had a lot in common.

"It took just a couple of weeks to agree to a meeting and after just five dates, here I am!

"The great thing about kissinggates.com is it's easier to find like-minded people. I'm getting all my single friends to join up."

Now James is on a mission to help other single country dwellers stir their love lives into action.

"It's hard for people living in the countryside to meet new people, particularly those aged between 30 and 50 whose social circles get smaller with time," he said.