A RETIRED couple from Darlington will be splashing the cash on their family this Christmas after wining £1,000 in The Northern Echo's monthly competition.

Lifelong Echo reader Pat Dougill, 75, was delighted to be picked from hundreds of entrants to win the August cash for tokens competition.

Her husband Hugh, 81, a retired accountant, was initially cautious that the winning message from The Northern Echo was a hoax and Mrs Dougill said she could not believe that they had won.

She added: “I have entered competitions through the years and have got to my age without winning a thing, so this was a nice surprise.”

The couple, who have two grown-up children and a 19-month-old granddaughter, plan to use the money to make Christmas extra special for their family.