I’d found the perfect man until I introduced him to my family

DEAR DEIDRE: The man I’d been dating, and really liked, effectively ended my feelings for him when he turned up at my house looking like a country gent.

I’m 23 and he’s 24. We’d been seeing each other for four months and were getting on well. He’s clever, funny and loves to travel, just like me.

I’m very close to my family and had a happy childhood growing up in the middle of nowhere.

I recently went home to spend time with my mum and dad and younger sisters. I invited him to come along and meet my folks.

Without wanting to make a big drama, I’d even told my mum and sisters that I really liked him.

Waiting for him to arrive felt like an age and I was pacing up and down, but the moment I saw him step out of his car my stomach dropped.

He was wearing one of those shooting shirts and a tweed jacket with jeans. I’d never seen him in anything like that before.

My feelings had definitely turned on a pin – I had “the ick”. When I asked him about his clothes, he said he’d “wanted to make a good impression”.

I knew then that I’d finish with him. I didn’t fancy him at all any more.

Now I’m worried about my reaction. One minute I was really into him and, the next, pretty much repulsed. What is that about?

DEIDRE SAYS: Yes, you definitely had an attack of “the ick”, as it’s known on Love Island.

This can happen to both men and women and it’s about the subconscious weighing up whether we think a certain person would make a good long-term partner, someone you can survive with and someone who will be a good parent to any potential children.

It’s not a slow change of heart, this is a sudden switch and can be quite extreme.

Try not to beat yourself up. You’ve ended things so have been honest with him.