A BLUSHING bride-to-be has bagged herself more than £2,000 to spend on her wedding after winning a Gazette competition.

Jenny Cooper and groom Ian McIntosh, 40, will walk down the aisle dressed in clothes from Abigail’s Collection, in Colchester High Street.

The Brightlingsea couple, who first got together at a friend’s wedding, collected tokens in the Gazette before sending them in and being chosen at random.

As well as £1,000 towards the bride’s dress, the couple can spend £500 for two bridesmaids’ outfits, suits for the groom and four others up to £600, and a £250 voucher for the mother of the bride.

Jenny, 28, met shop co-owner Abi Neill on Friday to get a taste of what she might be wearing on her big day, set for May next year.

She said: “We get the Gazette every day, and when I saw it I thought we would never have a chance but my other half said ‘Go for it’ so we did.

“I was very shocked when I found out we had won - when they rang I thought ‘Why on earth are they ringing me’. We are now entering all the holiday competitions to see if we can get the honeymoon sorted too.

“We’ve not done a lot of planning but I know who my bridesmaids are and what colour I would like to wear, and I am really excited to come back for the fittings as the shop looks lovely and the staff are really nice.”

The couple plan to get married at Vaulty Manor in Heybridge.

Abi Neill said: “It’s a delight to meet Jenny and show her around. It’s a lovely prize so it is nice to give it away to a lovely bride to be.

“She has some lovely wedding ideas so it will be really great to work with her and help with the big day.”

Gazette promotion team member Karen Mole added: “We are delighted for Jenny and Ian, and hope they enjoy their special day that little bit more thanks to the Gazette.