REGULAR Northern Echo reader Raymond Stuart had been thinking of trading in his ten-year-old hatchback - and then discovered he had won a new car in a competition run by the newspaper and motor dealership Suzuki Stoneacre.

The 58-year-old bus driver from County Durham landed the top prize of a Suzuki Ignis after collecting published tokens.

And accompanied by his wife Verna, he collected the car from the Durham dealership yesterday. The vehicle came complete with power steering, electric windows, central locking and a CD player, along with three years' warranty, roadside assistance and insurance.

Suzuki Stoneacre sales manager Michael Arnold, handing over the keys, said: "The competition has gone really well, and I'm over the moon that Mr Stuart has won."

Mr Stuart, who reads The Northern Echo daily, said the prize could not have been more timely, as he was thinking of replacing his ten-year-old Nova.

He said: "I just thought I might as well enter the competition, but time passed, and I forgot about it. I was at work when the wife got the phone call to say I'd won, and she didn't believe what she was hearing."

Andy Naylor, senior promotions coordinator with The Northern Echo, said: "It's been a pleasure having the opportunity to work with Suzuki Stoneacre in Durham.

"This competition has proved to be very popular with our readers.

"My congratulations to Mr and Mrs Stuart. I'm sure they'll continue to try their luck by entering the many more exclusive competitions coming soon in The Northern Echo."