WANTED: A single man in uniform. This is the plea from a Hampshire woman on a mission to get herself into the long arms of the law.

Forget dating agencies and lonely hearts ads, though - the lovelorn lass turned to Britain's new Freedom of Information Act to try to bag an arresting bachelor.

Using a pseudonym, she e-mailed Hampshire police headquarters in Winchester to inquire about the number of eligible officers within her area, aged between 35 and 49.

As well as asking for the salary details and pension values of those who met her criteria, she asked for the e-mail addresses of potential suitors.

The woman asked for the information to be sent to her at an e-mail account she had set up specially - called "I like men in uniform".

Unfortunately for her, Hampshire Constabulary was unable to provide everything she requested, as personal information such as names and e-mail addresses are exempt from the act.

However, the force did reply to confirm that there were 2,000 single officers in the county.

In addition, she was told there were 266 police bachelors in the area she was asking about, 201 of whom were in uniform.

Today a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "It caused a few smiles here.

"We have a dedicated team to deal with the Freedom of Information Act and they gave all the information they could give. Basically, she does not have a right to know some details. We do not give out personal details of officers and we do not have to give them out under the Freedom of Information Act."

Hampshire Police Federation chairman Steve Price said: "I am sure this application was done very much tongue-in-cheek, and I wish the lady well in her endeavour.

"There is certain information which obviously the force cannot give out, and this includes private details about individual officers and their e-mail addresses. As far as salaries are concerned, it is not too difficult to get on a government website to get an idea of what our officers earn."

He joked: "Now she knows there are 201 single officers in her area, she may want to take that further - but I can't think how, other than standing outside her local police station with a placard."

Susan Lewis, director of Mary Leigh Premier Introductions in Winchester, reckoned the woman should not have any trouble finding the man of her dreams.

"There are loads of men in uniform in Hampshire because of all the Royal Navy and Army barracks," she said.

What is it about a man - or woman - in uniform?

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