A READER of The Press says she is “grinning like a Cheshire cat” after winning £1,000 in a competition organised by the paper.

Pat Ward, of White House Gardens off Tadcaster Road, said she could hardly believe her ears when she received a phone call to say she was the latest winner of our Cash Giveaway, which will run in the newspaper every month until the end of the year.

She was randomly selected from hundreds of readers who sent in 25 of the vouchers printed each day in the newspaper in July.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it. It’s absolutely wonderful.

“My husband Brian and I are grinning like Cheshire cats!”

Pat, 79, who has bought the newspaper all her life, said she had previously entered and won Press competitions, such as crosswords and contests to win books, but had never never won anything as big as a £1,000 cash prize before.

She revealed that she and her husband were planning a holiday at Bridlington, involving a big family gathering of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she would now be able to treat them, for example by taking them for a meal out.

Our contest has brought a happy shock and a smile to the faces of a series of readers since it was launched earlier this year.

Pat Lewington, from the Cemetery Road area, said she was astounded when she heard she had won, and said she would probably go out for a meal with her family.

Another winner, Joan Simpson of Rufforth, said she was over the moon when she heard about her luck, and said she would probably spend the money on a holiday.

l Don’t forget we are giving away £1,000 to one lucky winner every month, with the next £1,000 winner set to be announced in September. Just look for the tokens printed every day and start collecting. For full competition details, go to yorkpress.co.uk/cashgiveaway.