Winter warmer win comes as a surprise to mum thanks to Rix Petroleum

Stephanie Wood, from Seahouses, won 500 litres of heating oil in a competition run by Rix Petroleum North East and the Northumberland Gazette in October, after her sister-in-law, Leanne Pearce, 28, entered on her behalf.

The 21-year-old mother-of-two, who was pregnant at the time but has since had a baby boy, Lucas, was shocked when she was told she had won the fuel, worth around £350.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“I was a bit confused because I didn’t know anything about the competition but when Leanne explained what she had done I was so grateful.

“It is such a lovely thing to do and a wonderful present.”

Ms Pearce, who is also from Seahouses, spotted the competition while browsing the Gazette at work. She decided to give it a go as her sister-in-law uses heating oil.

Ms Pearce said she hadn’t expected to win but thought it was worth a try as she knew Ms Wood was pregnant, so buying winter fuel wouldn’t be her top priority.

Tim Claxton, depot manager at Rix Petroleum NE, at Rashercap, Felton, said: “We organise a number of competitions like this but we’ve never had a winner who did not know they had even entered.

“I think it is a wonderful thing that Leanne did and it has really helped Stephanie out when she most needed it.

“We will be proud to deliver the heating oil to her and would like to wish them both, and little Lucas, a really fantastic Christmas.”

Source: www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk