A COUPLE are off to sunny Spain after scooping first prize in a competition at a shopping centre.

Dennis and Hazel Harding, from Stockton, were presented with travel vouchers worth £500 from Hayes Travel after winning an Easter promotion run by the town's Castlegate Shopping Centre.

The retired couple have lived in Stockton for nearly 30 years and visit the shopping centre at least twice every week.

On one of those visits, Mrs Harding entered a Find the Easter Bunny in Castlegate competition and promptly scooped the top prize.

The Hardings intend to use the prize on flights to Spain, where they and their son, Ian, have just bought a property in Costa de la Luz.

Mrs Harding said she enters as many competitions as she can.

She said: "Someone's got to win, and I hope it's me."

"I've often won small prizes, but never anything the size of this latest win.

"With our pending trips to and from Spain, this prize could not have come at a better time."