STOOD metres above the ground on a stone plinth in the middle of London watched by a crowd of strangers on Saturday night, a Truro artist decided to propose to her boyfriend.

Charlotte Williams, 23, said she was so overwhelmed by the whole experience she decided to call her partner of five years Jake Davis, 31, just before midnight as he watched her on the internet from him home in Truro with her parents.

She had taken to the Fourth Plinth, a living sculpture, in the hope of exploring her artistic boundaries and creating pieces of art inspired by her emotions, but ended up entertaining the crowds by throwing them polystyrene balls with messages written on them.

At 11.45pm she made a phone call to her boyfriend and decided to propose.

She said: "We had been waiting for the right moment and we're both artists, it just felt really special.

"It was absolutely nerve wracking. He didn't pick up the phone at first. Because there's a 30 second delay on the online feed he didn't realise it was me.

"I was going to cover my microphone when I asked him but I forgot so I broadcast my proposal to the world."

She managed to raise £250 for Cancer Research UK and is hoping to raise more from the art work she will create from the experience.

Charlotte said: "My head is just full of ideas after the experience so I'm hoping to get them all down on paper or canvas and then maybe hold an auction to make more money for charity."

In the meantime the couple are thinking up ideas for a quirky ceremony to follow their unusual engagement.

For details on the artist visit www.charlottewilliamsart.com or to watch the plinth www.oneandother.co.uk.