We are hearing whispers that a new love interest is on the horizon for Summer Bay's salad-tong wielding Leah Patterson-Baker!

The lonely widow, whose past relationships seem to have been doomed to failure, will finally find another long-term boyfriend in the form of a new character in early 2010 - which in turn will bring a strong presence of Leah in the stories for the first part of the year.

It is hoped that the new relationship will prove to be a popular pairing with Home and Away viewers.