DAVE Stephenson was a man who needed a makeover. The dad of four, who dresses in nothing but black jeans and T-shirts, last went shopping three years ago.

His wife Edith and her friends have spent years trying to persuade the managing director to smarten up his act but Dave wasn't to be persuaded.

In desperation, his daughter Kate, 13, entered The Northern Echo's competition and won the opportunity to kit out her parents in £500 worth of Marks & Spencer clothes.

In her letter, Kate told us her dad looked like a "proper Rodney" who had no fashion sense and was in desperate need of a new look. Her mum, she said, had more fashion sense, but her wardrobe needed a major update.

After spending a day in the company's Darlington store, Dave now has a whole new wardrobe full of stylish garments from the M&S, Perfect range. It's a far cry from his usual uniform of jeans and polo shirts which he wears in his spare time and for his work at the family firm, D & E Turf Maintenance in Shildon.

Dave, 48 says: "Kate's probably right when she says I'm a right Rodney. When you have to work with machinery you can't be wearing suits because they just get ruined. I do have one suit. I bought it from Marks & Spencer, but that was 15 years ago."

Edith, 46, a nurse at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, says: "I used to try and change him, but now I leave him to it. My friends used to say, 'can't you do something about his dress sense'?"

The hard-working mum, who shops only three to four times a year, was pleased to get her hands on a new wardrobe too. She has been working extra shifts to pay for a holiday to Italy with her friend Kath, the first time she has been for a break without the family.

"I usually buy clothes from a factory shop that sells Marks & Spencer seconds," says Edith. "I have got the suitcase waiting at home empty because I'm going to take all my new stuff with me."

The couple, from Central Parade, Shildon, have been married for nearly 25 years and put their successful marriage down to a good sense of humour. "It's make do and mend," jokes Dave. They couldn't wait to get home and try on all their new clothes again.

"It has been absolutely fantastic," says Edith. "It was lovely of Kate to nominate us and very thoughtful of her. It's amazing."

Kate, who has two brothers, Philip, 16, and Bradley, 28, and a sister, Ruth, 21, was impressed with her parents makeover. She says: "I think dad looks much better. I never thought it was possible."