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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Kate Pounds & John Bett

Couple fell in love after meeting on Nextdoor - after 40 years of being neighbours

A couple who met on networking app Nextdoor have fallen in love - despite being neighbours for 40 years and never noticing each other.

They unexpectedly crossed paths on the app where neighbours can sell and buy from each other, plan meet-ups, and share local information.

Chris Place, 44, wanted to pick up some bargains so signed up for the hyperlocal social networking service, but soon his heart was a flutter as he spotted 42-year-old Michelle Tooby.

He sent a 'wave' and soon he got one back, and after two weeks of chatting online they went on a date and realised that, while they had never met, they had a lot in common.

The pair, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, fell madly in love and are now in a relationship and spend time at each other's houses - which luckily are right next door to each other

The pair are now madly in love (Chris Place / SWNS)

What do you think about the couple's relationship? Let us know in the comments...

Chris, a former warehouse operative, said: "We've crossed paths no end of times since we were very young.

"It's like it just wasn't meant to happen until now. It was the last thing I expected.

"We're planning for the future but I haven't popped the question yet.

"It's great because if we get married our surname will be Place-Tooby - like 'place-to-be'."

Michelle, a former bar worker, said: "Neither of us were looking for love - we'd completely given up.

"I'm so glad we've found each other.

Their paths must have crossed countless times (Chris Place / SWNS)
Chris and Michelle's romance began with a simple wave (Chris Place / SWNS)

"It's so different from the way I've felt about someone before.

"It's just meant to be, and it's the right time now. It's like our relationship waited for the right moment."

Chris, a self-confessed hoarder, went on the app to check out what people were selling but got distracted by Michelle's picture in August 2022.

They found they shared loads of hobbies like going out, driving, and gardening.

And they discovered they'd always lived no more than ten minutes walk apart.

Michelle even recognised Chris' car.

The pair used to go to the same park after school, and as adults went to the same pubs.

Chris's daughter Kya, now 22, and Michelle's son, now 20 and daughter Lexi, now 14, had shared schools over the years.

Chris said: "I was looking for something out of the ordinary and that's exactly what I found.

"There's just something about the way she looks that really captures me. She's a very kind person and you can see that in her face.

"I mean don't get me wrong, she can be very sassy too.

"As soon as we started chatting we got on like a house on fire: there was something extraordinarily special about it.

"We feel so comfortable together, and it keeps getting better and better, even now."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

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