A FORMER soldier is trying to track down a woman he invited on a date 66 years ago - and then walked off and left her with one of his friends.

Ken Bird wants to explain what caused him to jilt her after he had planned to take her to the Gaumont Cinema, in Corporation Street, Taunton, in March 1952.

The couple were excited as they queued up outside the building - now Mecca Bingo - but then disaster struck.

Ken, who now lives in Solihull, but was stationed at Norton Manor Camp at the time, sad he was turned away at the door as he tried to pay with a ten shilling note.

"Unfortunately, it had torn in half in my pocket and I was refused entry," he said.

"I felt ashamed and walked away and left her with an Army buddy.

"If the lady in question reads this article, I would very much like a chat."

Ken, who believes his blink-and-you-miss-it date lived close to Staplegrove, can be contacted via e-mail at kaybee493@hotmail.co.uk or phone 0121-4302788.