text: A romantic boyfriend gave his partner the surprise of her life when he asked her to marry him by hiring a giant billboard at the side of a road she passes on her way to work. Paul Bakewell, 35, from Walsall, West Mids, secretly designed a poster which he then had emblazoned on the 20ft-tall advertising hoarding and covered over. The dad-of-one arranged for his partner Tara Barber, 32, to be driven past the billboard by her boss who pretended they were going to a business meeting on Friday morning. Scroll down for video . Paul Bakewell, 35, proposed to partner Tara Barber, 32, by asking her to marry him using a giant billboard on the A34, in Walsall, West Mids . Hairdresser Tara (pictured left), was shocked when her car pulled up to the billboard and her partner, gas fitter Paul (pictured right) got down on one knee . 'Tara, you've changed my life. Will you marry me?': The billboard was 20ft-tall and 30ft-wide and also featured pictures of the couple . But the pretty hairdresser was left speechless when the car stopped at the 30ft-wide poster on the side of the A34 in Walsall, West Mids. The billboard featured pictures of the couple and the words: 'Tara you've changed my life. Will you marry me?' Romantic Paul - who had arranged for friends and family to hide on the other side of the road - then went down on one knee and proposed to Tara, who said yes. Gas fitter Paul, who lives with Tara in Walsall, said he didn't sleep for two days because of nerves from planning the big surprise. Paul left the house at 4am on Friday to help put the poster on the giant billboard - telling Tara he had been called out to an emergency gas leak . Surprise! Unsuspecting Tara Baker (pictured right), was driven to the billboard by her boss (pictured left), and was shocked by the scene in front of her . Drive-through proposal! A big crowd of family members and friends had gathered on a green opposite the billboard to watch the proposal, and cheered and tooted horns after Paul got down on one knee . It's a yes! Tara Barber, 32, admitted that it was a well-kept secret and that she had no idea . He added: 'It was definitely the scariest thing I have ever done in my life. I was putting myself out there in front of so many people but I was confident she would say yes. 'I have never been so nervous in my life planning this. It was completely nerve-wracking, I hadn't slept for two days before Friday. 'I had been to ask her dad first to do it the traditional way and her family said she would say yes. 'I'm from just down the road and I know Tara drives this way into work in Walsall every day so I arranged for her boss to drive her there pretending they had a meeting. 'When she arrived she was so shocked and I think more nervous than me when she realised what was happening. 'She didn't have a clue. I thought it would be something special to make a grand gesture.' The 20ft-tall 30ft-wide billboard featured images of the couple from their relationship . The billboard was positioned on the side of major road, the A34 in Walsall, West Mids, a route that Tara regularly takes to work . 'I wanted to do something different. Anyone can propose at a table at a restaurant or at home but I wanted it to be something she would remember.' Mother-of-one Tara, who has a son Carrick, six, from a previous relationship, added: 'I was totally clueless, it was the best kept secret. 'My boss pulled over and I thought there had been a car accident because there were so many people by the side of the road. 'Then she started crying and I saw the billboard and my legs just went to jelly, I couldn't feel them at all. 'I had no hesitation to saying yes. It was incredible, we'll never forget this. 'It was the best day of my life and I am glad he did a grand gesture.' The 35-year-old gas fitter from Walsall had wanted to do something different to ask his partner to marry him . Paul left the house at 4am on Friday to help put the poster on the giant billboard - telling Tara he had been called out to an emergency gas leak. When he originally planned the proposal, he was disappointed to find out that the advertising space had been bought up for several years by Homeserve. But fortunately, the company agreed to let him use the advertising space. A big crowd of family members and friends who had gathered on a green opposite the billboard to watch the proposal cheered and tooted horns after Paul got down on one knee and an emotional Tara said yes. The advertising space had originally bought been by a company called Homeserve but they agreed to let Paul use the space . The happy family: Newly-engaged couple, Paul and Tara, are pictured with their children from previous relationships, Ellie (Paul's daughter - pictured left) and Carrick, (Tara's son - pictured middle) Paul, who has a daughter Ellie, 11, from a previous relationship, added: 'I knew there was a billboard and I started looking into how I could pay to take out a poster two weeks ago. 'But when I inquired I found HomeServe had bought the space so I approached them. 'They were completely brilliant and designed the poster and worked with me to arrange the day.'
target: Paul Bakewell, 35, arranged for partner Tara Barber, 32, to drive by .
  Bakewell, from Walsall, told friends and family to hide on other side of road .
  Billboard was 20ft-tall and 30ft-wide, on side of A34 in Walsall, West Mids .