A COUPLE who have been forced to live in a hotel after a burst water pipe destroyed their home are looking forward to a relaxing break in the sun after winning an Echo competition.

Sylvia and Malcolm Chittock are “completely and utterly over the moon” are finding out they have been selected to enjoy a 15 night cruise to the Canary Islands and Madeira in October after the Echo teamed up with CMV Cruises.

The trip will be a welcome break for the couple, who have both battled health issues. They have also been living out of suitcases since their homes, in the Southchurch area of Southend, was flooded in August. They are currently staying at the Holiday Inn, at Southend Airport.

Mrs Chittock has been diagnosed with cancer six times. In the past nine years she has had breast cancer twice, fought bowel cancer and had part of her lung removed after the cancer spread there in 2015. It then spread to her thyroid in 2016.

She also needed treatment for skin cancer last year.

Mrs Chittock, 70, said: “This was such a nice surprise as we have both had lots of problems.

“I have had chemotherapy and radiotherapy, you name it I’ve had it. My husband had a heart attack and a heart bypass too and he had a stroke at Christmas.

“In August we discovered mould on the walls in our kitchen and in the lounge and it turned out the main water pipe under the kitchen had been leaking and had to move out.”

Mrs Chittock was advised to leave the home by her doctor. Her medical conditions meant the mould could damage her health.

Although the couple, who have three grandchildren, hope to return home soon, they now can’t stop thinking about their upcoming trip.

They almost lost out on the prize when they nearly forgot to hand in their completed entry, which required readers to collect six tokens from the Echo before the deadline.

Mrs Chittock added: “It was so funny as I had been collecting the tokens and then on the Sunday prior to the deadline we were in Basildon and I said can we drop off the entry to the Echo offices, in Chester Hall Lane.

“My husband said it was a waste of time, and that we would never win anything - but this has proved him wrong!

“It was so great when that call came through, I still can’t believe it. We were completely dumbstruck. “It has been so stressful recently, we can’t wait.”

Mr Chittock, 67, added: “I’m really glad I handed it in now.”