A COUPLE who got engaged on Christmas Day ten years ago have won a romantic stay at one of the region's premier hotels.

Andrew and Jennifer Mason, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, entered The Northern Echo's Valentine's Day competition to find the most romantic proposal story.

They got engaged while spending Christmas Day at the home of Mrs Mason's parents and brother in 1994.

She had just given him a photographic portrait of herself when he responded with his present -a box of Roses chocolates.

Hugely disappointed with his choice of gift, she put on a brave face when he asked her to offer the chocolates around.

When the box was passed to her brother, he tipped the contents on to the floor to find one he liked.

A small square box fell out and, as she went to pick it up, Mr Mason got down on one knee and proposed. The couple married on April 22, 1995, and now have two children.

Mrs Mason said: "He had done romantic things before, but nothing like this. It was a complete shock."

Their story has won them a stay at the four-star Redworth Hall Hotel, near Heighington, County Durham.