A COUPLE who led the way in a £38,000 high speed fundraising campaign have won themselves a dream wedding.

Soldier Matthew Hulbert, 31, and his fiancee Kendra Blackett, 23, won TFM radio station’s Five Brides One Wedding competition by raising the most money in a week for children’s charity Cash for Kids.

They were among five couples who were chosen for the cash challenge from more than 600 applicants.

Mr Hulbert, a Sergeant in the Royal Signals, and Miss Blackett, who works as a personal trainer, collected £13,780, winning themselves a £25,000 wedding package including a reception at Crathorne Hall Hotel, near Yarm.

They began by packing bags for supermarket customers around their home in Spennymoor, County Durham, going on to organise tombolas, raffles, a football tournament and a bonus ball competition and touring pubs around the North-East Mr Hulbert said: "It was great fun and we can’t believe the support we have had from our family, friends, work colleagues and members of the public.

"It’s been hard work but worth every minute.

"In my job I have taken part in many sleep deprivation courses, all of which have been a lot easier than this."

The couple got engaged in Paris last April when Mr Hulbert proposed at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

They are hoping to marry later in the summer.

Runners up Katie Johns and Will Marley raised £8,196 and surprised listeners when they got engaged on air.

Dawn Carney, manager of Cash for Kids, said: "A huge well done to all five couples and their families who have worked extremely hard over the past week.

Everyone is so proud of their fundraising efforts.

"The money will stay within the local area to help the neediest children."

Cash for Kids raises funds to improve the lives of children from birth to 17 years across the Tees Valley, North Yorkshire and the south of County Durham.

The Jennings Motor Group supplied cars for the couples for the week of the challenge.