Rude proposal for naked surfer

An unsuspecting civil servant whose naked picture was displayed on the internet by his girlfriend has acquired cult status across the globe.

The Valentine's Day prank by Sarah Jay, 23, was intended to humiliate boyfriend, Stephen McPherson, into proposing.

Mr McPherson, 24, had just a computer-generated fig leaf covering his modesty, but it wasn't enough to stem the flow of visitors to the site, which eventually crashed and has since been removed by the provider, Lycos.

Miss Jay, who is also a civil servant, decided that desperate measures were needed after seven years with Mr McPherson. She posted the picture on the Net and told friends to take a look in a bid to embarrass him to popping the question.

Introducing him on the site, entitled Tell Him To Marry Me, she said: "This is Stephen and he is the man I want to marry. The problem is that he doesn't quite agree so I've put his picture on the Net and am asking you to help persuade him to say 'yes' and until he does, this picture is here to stay. I love him. I want him. Please help me out." But her site was spotted by internet surfers who alerted The Register, a computer enthusiasts' site and FHM.com, the website of the lads' magazine, making it an instant hit around the world. Miss Jay said: "He's got a sense of humour so he shouldn't react too badly, and it lets him know I'm serious."

However, Miss Jay, was unwilling to be drawn on whether or not her stunt had achieved the desired result and she is to become Mrs McPherson.

However, Mr McPherson's blushes are unlikely to match those of lawyer Claire Swire. In December 2000, Miss Swire, 26, sent an email to a fellow solicitor at City firm Norton Rose following one of their sexual encounters.

The flattered Mr Chait could not resist sharing the sentiments expressed in graphic detail by Miss Swire and forwarded it to six male friends, saying: "Now that's a nice compliment from a lass, isn't it?"

Those friends in turn sent it to their friends and it crossed continents.