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Speed dating is fast, fun and rejection-free - and next month it's coming to Manchester.

The novel scheme took off in America about two years ago and has even featured in an episode of the hit US comedy Sex and the City.

The premise is so simple it's not hard to see why speed dating is proving so popular.

Between 30 and 50 men and women are brought together in an upmarket bar and given a scorecard, pen and badge.

The men are seated opposite the women and then the dating starts. After three minutes a bell rings and all the men move round one place and begin chatting to the next woman.

The process is complete once every man has 'dated' every woman. The speed daters mark on their scorecard who they would like to see again and hand it in at the end of the night. If there is a match, the organisers will pass on contact details.

Ben Tisdall runs the UK speed dating firm Speed Dater Ltd with its founder Simon Prockter.

He said: "Speed dating is not a fad, it's proved hugely successful in America and in London and we are hoping it will really take off across the country.

"Internet dating is already massive, but the problem is that you're not meeting people face to face, and if you're on a blind date and don't like the person you're with, you can't just escape. That's the beauty of speed dating."

Anyone wanting to attend the Manchester event on Tuesday, February 11 should call Ben on 0870 243 0935.