A FAMILY has promised to play Santa after winning more than £1,000 of prizes in the Echo’s Christmas competition.

The Tapsell family, of Vicarage Close, Canvey, won a huge pile of prizes – from panto tickets, to jewellery – in the Echo’s Win Christmas promotion.

Overwhelmed mum-of-three Coral said she planned to share her good fortune with friends, relatives and local charities.

She added: “I was really excited. It’s nice, because we don’t often enter competitions.

“My sister has a foster child and he is obsessed with diggers, so he will love the tickets to visit Diggerland in Kent, where you can drive forklift trucks.

“My own children are quite big, but some of the toys and games will definitely make a difference for my sister’s foster child.

“We have given some of the vegetable hamper to an elderly couple across the road.

“It’s really nice to be able to give it out to people.”

Mrs Tapsell said some of the DVDs and games would be going to St Luke’s Hospice and the Indee Rose Trust, which helps children in hospital for treatment to brain or spinal tumours.

More than 1,000 readers entered the competition by collecting six tokens from the Echo last month and sending them to us with their entry form.

Mrs Tapsell said she had been shocked to win so much.

She added “I’d definitely urge other people to enter.”

Mr Tapsell moved to the area 11 years ago from Zimbabwe, a year after her mother arrived.

She said: “It’s quite funny, because my late mum entered an Echo competition and won it when she arrived 12 years ago, so it’s funny for me to win one too now.”

JUST LOOK WHAT THEY WON

  • VIP admission and a table with free champagne – Shades Nightclub, Southend
  • Family ticket to see Cinderella and a pre-show meal —Towngate Theatre, Basildon
  • Family feast with soft drinks – Nando’s restaurant
  • Turkey and tinsel break for two adults at Pontins’ Pakefield Holiday Park, Suffolk
  • Family cinema ticket with popcorn and drinks – Vue Lakeside
  • A selection of Christmas food —Carry Home Cuisine, Westcliff
  • Games bundle – Toys’N’Tuck, Southend
  • Christmas tree – Battlesbridge Mill
  • Baby-safe Charlie Bear – Teddy Station, Southend
  • Personalised present bundle – Design a Print
  • Winter blanket, socks and jumper – Heat Holders
  • Dress jewellery and handmade ring – Blacksigi
  • Large Turkey – R H Nash & Sons
  • Glazed ham joint – Byfords Food Hall, Rayleigh
  • Three-course dinner and wine for two – the Zach Willsher, Benfleet
  • Winter vegetable basket – Rayleigh Fruit and Veg
  • Woman’s watch – Deemark Jewellery
  • Family admission to Laser World, Partyman World and Marsh Farm – Partyman World, Basildon
  • Lee Evans and Jon Richardson DVDs – Universal
  • Silver pendant necklace – Earrings Galore
  • Family admission to Southend Pier – Southend Council
  • Outdoor Christmas lights – GMD
  • Christmas decorations – HomeBase
  • £50 shopping voucher – Intu Lakeside
  • 4 ball golf voucher worth £100 – Burstead Golf Club
  • Beauty gift set – Tesco Extra Pitsea
  • Rossi Ice Cream
  • Tickets to Diggerland, Kent