CHRISTMAS came early to an elderly couple from Horden who won a laptop computer.

It was donated by Northumbrian Water, a lead partner in a project to develop a healthy living resource centre for Easington.

Harry and Majorie Sumpton, both in their 70s, were chosen at random when they returned a questionnaire to County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Four thousand leaflets and questionnaires were posted to homes in the Horden, Easington Colliery, Easington Village and north Peterlee areas, earlier this month.

A further 2,000 were made available through public places such as schools, post offices and libraries.

People were asked to complete a questionnaire on what facilities and activities they wanted to see in the healthy living centre planned for the site of the former waterworks building in Paradise Lane, Easington Colliery.

Mr and Mrs Sumpton were delighted with their prize and said they were looking forward to having the centre on their doorstep, as they were both finding it difficult to travel and hoped the centre will be well used.

Fiona Gillespie, healthy living resource centre co-ordinator for the PCT said: "We wanted to know what local people wanted, and the questionnaire, as well as the events taking place, gave them a chance to tell us what health and other services they wanted to see provided in the centre, and what would attract people to use the services available.

"The centre will provide a focal point for the local community and give a range of groups an opportunity to address real issues."