WHEN five-year-old Megan Gaines took part in a charity balloon race in September, she thought no more about it - until she received a letter telling her that her entry had ended up in Norway.

She entered the race when she was at Stokesley Show with her grandparents.

To begin with, Megan, from Pickering, did not even want to let the balloon go because she thought she was getting one to keep, but after some gentle persuasion, she let is sail away with 669 other entries.

Most of the balloons were found locally, with a few in east Cleveland, but Megan's was the outright winner by some distance.

It was found by a man who was out hunting in the woods at Eidal Sigdal Kommune, which is 60 miles north west of Oslo.

He duly returned it to the organiser of the race, Terry Ratcliffe, from Stokesley Rotary Club and a reward to him has now been dispatched, along with a cheque for £50 for Megan.

Her mother Gill said: "She didn't really know where Norway was until she looked on the map and realised the balloon had gone over the sea. She has been so excited about it and went round telling everyone that her balloon had won."

The balloon race raised £300 for The Association of Children's Hospices, which formed part of a £1,650 cheque recently presented to the charity by Stokesley Rotary Club.