IF you've been boring your friends rigid moaning about your romantic woes, there is another way, as PETER SLEE has been finding out.

GIVING your dating technique a good overhaul is the brand new way to tackle relationship problems.

It's the run-up to Valentine's Day and seemingly everywhere you look there are couples kissing, or strolling along hand-in-hand, bundled up in scarves and gloves like the living embodiment of a Disney happy ending.

But if you're single, you're not alone. There are 13 million singletons in the UK, and recent research shows that 5.6 million of them haven't been on a date for the past six months or had a relationship in more than a year.

In her own small way, Rhyannon Smith hopes to help change that.

She is giving Cupid a hand by bringing a little romance to the aisles of a Swansea community library later this month.

For a bargain £2 a head, the 20 men and women who sign up will be able to meet and chat at a special speed dating get-together at Killay Library on The Ridgeway.

Would-be matchmaker Rhyannon said she hit on the idea after being told of similar evenings held at the city's Central Library.

"We thought we'd follow the trend but try something a little bit different.

"The idea has been very well-received so far but the majority of people to have already signed up are women, so we'd like single men to show a bit of courage and commit to the event.

"We have a few ice-breaker ideas based around film, literature and music that we hope will get the participants talking when they arrive on the night.

"Evenings of this nature help to raise the profile of libraries and can often lead to romance. I'd urge anyone interested to get in touch.''

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Rhyannon, aged 27, and herself single, is planning to attend a speed dating event being staged in a city nightclub next week as a taster to her own. She adds: "Of course, speed dating itself is nothing new, but they are usually held in pubs and clubs which can be a little noisy.

"Not everybody enjoys that so we hope this will offer them something a bit different.

"It is being held after our regular opening hours but we hope it will be a success and that it acts as a platform for people being able to chat and meet in what should be a pleasant environment.''

Interested? Entry forms are available at Killay Library. The event starts at 7pm and the age limit has been set at 25 and over. Call 01792 516820.