A BUILDING society customer has found opening an investment account has generated a surprise dividend – a 42in television.

Carol Boyd, 59, scooped the prize after she opened an investment account at Darlington Building Society and was entered into a prize draw.

Mrs Boyd, from Darlington, did not think anything more of it until she was contacted by staff.

She said: “When I was told I’d won the TV I was in shock. It took me a while to understand because I’ve never won anything.”

Annette Smith, customer sales advisor at the society’s Tubwell Row branch, said: “We congratulate Mrs Boyd on winning the prize draw, we are happy the prize went to such a long serving customer like her, who has used Darlington Building Society throughout her life.

“We have opened a lot of new investment accounts since we have been running this competition. The lure of winning a TV seems to be encouraging people to finally get round to opening the account they have been meaning to for a while.”

Mrs Boyd, who is retired, is a long term customer of Darlington Building Society, having saved with them for 33 years.