A volleyball fan served an ace when he proposed to his girlfriend at the Olympics beach tournament in front of 15,000 spectators.

Tom Holt, 33, got down on one knee and proposed to Elfi Czinegeova, 32, at Horse Guards Parade in London.

Luckily for Mr Holt, Miss Czinegeova said yes.

The couple, who live in Bedford Place, Hove, plan to marry next summer.

The amateur beach volleyball players got engaged after the Italy versus Spain match in the women’s tournament on Saturday.

They both play regularly at Brighton beach and are members of Adur Volleyball Club.

Mr Holt, a sales account manager, passed a note to the commentators who agreed he could come down on to the sand between matches and propose.

He told Miss Czinegeova they were on the sand as an early birthday treat. He said: “She kept asking me why I was texting while we were there.

“It was brilliant. I got down on one knee and everyone watched. She did not say much at first but then said yes.

“So many people said congratulations.”

Describing what he liked about Miss Czinegeova, he said: “She is supportive and great. And we both love volleyball.

“I know it’s an unusual setting but we had the tickets and I thought it would be a great idea.”

Miss Czinegeova, an operations manager for a company that makes mobile phone cases, based in Woodingdean, added: “I was pretty surprised. I did not expect it at all. He disguised it so well. He was really cool.

“But it was amazing. It was fantastic. I had tears in my eyes.”

Afterwards people wrote about the romantic proposal on Twitter.

One person said: “Topping off my ‘weep a day’ during the Olympics with a marriage proposal at beach volleyball.”

Another man wrote: “Just witnessed a marriage proposal at the beach volleyball. She said ‘yes’ in front of 15,000 spectators.”

Can you top Mr Holt’s proposal? Email anna.roberts@theargus.co.uk .