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A woman is trying to track down a fellow train passenger who made her day by calling her beautiful.

Maia Rees, 44, from Bruton, was given the unexpected compliment by a stranger who got on the 17.07 train from Bristol to Bruton in Bath.

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Maia Rees

She said the gesture suggested there might be a connection, and she would like to track the man down to thank him.

Ms Rees had been shopping in Bristol with her daughter and her friend, and was on the train home when the man got on at Bath with his teenage son and sat opposite her.

During the journey he kept looking at her, and as the train reached Westbury and he got up to leave he said: ^By the way, you are beautiful.^

As the train pulled off he waved at her, and now she wants to track him down.

Ms Rees, who works as front of house at the Archangel restaurant in Frome, said: ^He was very handsome, and over the course of the journey he kept glancing at me and I glanced back. I know that this is a long shot, but I have come to realise over the last year that you have to take chances in life and you only live once.

^So I would love to track down the gentleman in question even if it just to say a huge thank you for making an otherwise tricky day 100 per cent better and raising my self esteem. It really made my day, and I know it sounds cheesy but there was definitely a connection there. You never know what could happen.^

Ms Rees said even if her mystery admirer remains anonymous she hopes her encounter might encourage other people to be nice to each other. ^If anything I hope this lets people know there are nice people out there. We all need cheering up from time to time and we are really bad at saying how we feel or saying nice things to each other.^

The man is described as about 5ft 8, with grey hair, and was wearing a big coat and scarf. Ms Rees thinks he could have been at the Bath Rugby game with his son, who was around 14 years old. Is this you, or do you know who it could be?

Contact news@bathchron.co.uk or call 01225 322206.

Commuter is still searching for romantic train stranger

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Maia Rees at Westbury railway station, where a romantic gesture changed her outlook on life  Photo: Trevor Porter (47829)

A mystery train passenger who told commuter Maia Rees she was beautiful has changed her outlook on life. Now she wants to trace the man who got off the train at Westbury.

Miss Rees, 44, was travelling home to Bruton on the 5.07pm train from Bristol on October 19, after spending the day shopping with her daughter Rhian, 16, and her friend.

The man, who she describes as 5ft 8ins, with grey hair and thinks was in his 40s, got on the train at Bath with his teenage son and sat opposite. He kept looking at Ms Rees and before leaving turned and said: ^By the way, you are beautiful^.

As the train pulled away he waved at her and Ms Rees has been trying to track him down.

Ms Rees, who works as front of house at the Archangel restaurant, in Frome, said: ^It was a difficult day for me, but that comment completely turned my day around and I want to thank him for that. He was very handsome and I^m pretty sure he had just come from the rugby. My daughter^s friend told me he had been glancing at me, and while I didn^t want to say anything I was glancing back. When he said I was beautiful I just sat there with a flattered look on my face. We were all gobsmacked because it^s not something you expect to happen in this day and age.^

Her story has provoked varied responses on social media sites. She said: ^It has stirred a reaction on Twitter. I^d just love to tell him in person how much his words changed my day and year.^