Cupid's arrow off target, says woman

A dating agency aimed at "professional people" found itself in court yesterday after a customer complained that it had matched her with a string of unsuitable men.

Susan Constable, a widow, launched a small claims action at Stirling Sheriff Court after alleging that Dunblane-based company Initial Approach repeatedly sent her profiles of men with whom she had nothing in common. The firm cancelled her pounds 376 membership when she complained - and refused to give her a refund, she said.

Mrs Constable claimed she was offered men who were "totally unsuitable - fat men, bald men, men who could not or dare not drive, all totally unacceptable".

She said: "The final straw came when she got me introduced to a man from the north of Scotland who dare not drive a car."

For the company, solicitor Tom Murray said Initial Approach had fulfilled all the terms and conditions of the contract it offered members, and was required only to provide four introductions over the one-year membership period, which it had done.