A COUPLE have been won a cruise around the British Isles thanks to a special Gazette competition.

Janice Atkins and her husband John, who are both 69, will be heading off on their venture next September.

The couple have lived in Wade Reach, Walton, for the past five years Janice’s husband surprised her by entering the competition in her name and submitting the coupons which came free with the paper.

They have won a luxury ten night stay on board the Columbus setting off from Tilbury in Thurrock.

Mrs Atkins said: “I found about it last week - the same day that my new grandson was born.

“I was shocked, my husband entered for me then we didn’t think anything of it but I did get really excited about it.

“With it being around the British Isles you always think ‘well we can go there one day’ but you never really get around to it.

“It’s just a bit of fun we’d love to go away to somewhere we’ve never been.

“But we can now go away and do it - and for free.”

Both Mr and Mrs Atkins found out that they won about a week after the closing date.

They will be able to explore the sites of the Orkney Islands, Belfast and Dublin as well as sampling the sights in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The cruise will also take in and Honfleur in northern France.

Mrs Atkins added: “All we had to do is collect three coupons and we didn’t think anything more of it.

“When I first got the call telling us we’d won, I thought it was somebody trying to sell us something. When I rang the lady I was absolutely gobsmacked.”

Mr and Mrs Atkins will be both close to celebrating their 70th birthdays while they are on the trip and they intend to mark it in style.

Mrs Atkins said: “We always buy the Gazette so that wasn’t much hardship, but we’re so looking forward to it. As my husband said, it’s a holiday that was only the cost of a postage stamp.”