A grandmother of five will be treating her family this Christmas after winning a year’s worth of food shopping.

Maggie Abrahams will now have £5,200 to spend on her food shopping at East of England Co-operative stores.

The 55-year-old bank cashier from Crown Street, Stowmarket, was cheered on by her family and friends yesterday when she was announced as the winner of the competition run by the EADT with the Co-op.

She said her first voucher was going to be spent on a big selection of chocolates and a bottle of amaretto.

“When I found out I was in shock and I did not really believe it. I entered the competition for four weeks and when I got a phone call saying I had won I could not believe it,” she said.

“It will make a lot of difference for my friends and family. I could share the vouchers and help my friends with their shopping.

“I’ve already been down to the store to have a look round. I’ve had a look at the local produce things like Aspall’s Cyders and fruit drinks and all these sorts of things. It’s a brilliant prize – it’s worth a lot.”

Maggie was greeted by staff from her local Co-operative store in Combs Ford to mark her receiving the prize.

She lives with her partner Chris Cocksedge and has worked in the TSB Bank in Stowmarket for almost 30 years.

“I’m going to treat the family, I have not really discussed it or thought too much about it,” she said.

“We will get lots of gifts for Christmas and I will also be able to spend the vouchers for next year’s Christmas as well.

“It will be nice to come shopping and be able to buy what you want and not have to think about the prices and whether you can afford it.”

About 5,000 people entered the competition which ran in the EADT for five weeks.

Store manager Paul Everett said: “It’s great that Maggie is local to our store – she can bring her grandchildren round and it will be a great help for her over the next year.

“It’s a nice small store with a good local range and we have our Christmas promotions coming up which will be helpful for her.”

Thousands of EADT readers will be receiving their vouchers to save £5 on a £40 food shop at the Co-op by the end of the month.