A MIDDLESBROUGH expatriate has had the luck of the Irish.

Robert Simpson became the 400,000th passenger to fly on Ryanair's Teesside to Dublin service and was presented with free tickets for two return flights and a bottle of champagne.

Robert and his wife Katy were travelling back to Ireland with their two children, Kane and Livvy yesterday after visiting family in the Teesside area, when he clocked up the airline landmark.

He said: "I'm very surprised but pleased to be the 400,000th passenger. The free flights will really come in handy as we use the Teesside to Dublin service so often."

The family moved from Middlesbrough to Cork three years ago and often travel with Ryanair to return to see family and friends.

Ryanair is offering free flights, excluding taxes and charges, from Teesside to Dublin for travel between September and December but the free tickets can only be booked up until midnight tonight.

Nicola Connolly, of Ryanair, said: "Since the inauguration of this route in 1997, Dublin has become one of our most popular destinations."

Richard Whitehouse, Commercial Manager of Teesside Airport, said: "We have seen the Ryanair service grow year after year."