EVERY Christmas, Susan Timmins slaves over a hot stove to serve up a festive dinner.

In fact, the 43-year-old mother of three does the household cooking all-year-round, while husband Michael barely lifts a finger.

But Mrs Timmins, from Washington, Wearside, insists on having at least one day off a year - Boxing Day - when she puts her feet up, pours herself a sherry and takes a well-earned break.

This year, her husband has come up with a novel way of showing his appreciation for all her hard work at home and at their business.

His company has sponsored all six horse races in the Boxing Day meeting at Sedgefield, County Durham -and named them after his wife's day off.

Races include the Susan I Cooked Lunch Yesterday Novices Hurdle, the No Need To Cook Today Beginners' Chase, the I'm Off Today Handicap Hurdle and the I'm Having Another Sherry Today Handicap Chase.

A group of about 30 family and friends will visit the racecourse for their annual Boxing Day treat.

Mr Timmins, 45, is the managing director of Saltwell Signs, based on the Team Valley Industrial Estate, in Gateshead, where Susan is a director.

He said: "This is something special for her. Especially in business, the women behind us men generally do not get any praise, but I would not be able to do without her."

Mrs Timmins, who had no idea what her husband was planning, said: "This is dreadfully embarrassing. I do not like to be the centre of attention at all and he has put me right in the spotlight here.

"But it is a standing joke in the house that there is no cooking gets done at all by Michael.

"If I could marry again, it would be to a chef so that I could have somebody to cook for me."

She said the whole family was looking forward to the day out, and said: "It is a nice break for me and we all really enjoy it.

"The children absolutely love it and they usually come out the best on their winnings."

Racing at Sedgefield starts at 1pm on Boxing Day, but the gates will be open at 11am for people who also wish to take in the live football match between Charlton and Chelsea.

Because of a racing calendar shake-up, there will be no Boxing Day fixture next year at Sedgefield, which was named best small racecourse in the North-East and Scotland by the Racegoers Club this year.

Next year, the course is introducing a race on New Year's Eve.