A LUCKY reader will have an extra special Christmas after winning the Gazette’s festive competition.

Janet Knight clinched our Win Christmas competition and has picked up her bumper collection of prizes ready for the big day.

The goodies, which include holiday essentials, will come to good use when she has her family around for Christmas dinner.

Mrs Knight, who lives just off the Bromley Road, Colchester, said: “It was a wonderful surprise. I was so shocked. It blew me away. It is so nice to win something.

“It means the family have got lots of nice things. The grandchildren will have a great time. I like everything, it is all wonderful.”

The prizes, including a Christmas tree, turkey and toy shop gift vouchers, were worth more than £1,000.

There were also vouchers for activities including a ride in a hot air balloon and a session at Rollerworld.

Mrs Knight said: “The balloon ride for us is the bee’s knees.

“It is something we wouldn’t normally do ourselves. I’m really looking forward to Christmas, we’ve got lots of nice things now.”

To win the competition, Mrs Knight collected six tokens, which appeared in the Gazette every day between November 18 and 29. It was the first time she had entered a Gazette competition.

She said: “I get the paper delivered every day.

“It was such a lovely surprise.

“I didn’t even know what the prizes were.”