A COUPLE had their Christmas shopping taken care of this year... thanks to the Echo.

Sharon Box, 46, and husband Terry, 54, won our competition with the Eastgate Centre, in Basildon, which saw them receive £1,000 in shopping vouchers.

They were picked up from their home in (the aptly named) Great Spenders, Basildon, and taken to the centre.

They were given fashion advice from personal shopper Michelle Moore on what to spend their £250 Debenhams vouchers on.

As part of their special day, the couple stopped off for lunch in Nando’s before a second wave of shopping in the afternoon.

They spent £250 of vouchers on Christmas groceries from Asda and bought presents with £500 of vouchers for Next, Topshop, HMV, Ernest Jones and River Island.

Sharon, who is a home care coordinator for Aids UK Essex, in Thurrock, said: “I was so shocked when I found out I had won. I almost couldn’t believe it!

“The whole day was wonderful and they really spoiled us. Michelle gave me some great advice and I ended up buying a lovely dress and trousers and tops which I would not have thought to try on without her guidance.

“We are so grateful to have been picked as the winners. It means our family is going to be very spoiled this Christmas with lots of lovely presents!”