Ref. 31108-04SWINDON grandmother Doreen Everitt has won a cracker of a holiday.

She will be taking daughter Sally Rachel, 28, with her on a £20,000 three-day trip to New York in October.

And it's all thanks to a humble packet of Jacob's Cream Crackers.

Mrs Everitt, 55, of Grasmere, expected a free packet of the crackers when she sent off her entry last Christmas, but she was thrilled to learn that she is one of just 10 winners of a top prize.

The competition - named Grand Day Out after the hit TV animated film featuring Wallace and Gromit attracted more than 250,000 entries.

Mother and daughter will make the trip across the pond in Club Class.

Once in the Big Apple, they will be chauffeured like celebrities to the luxurious five-star Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue.

Also included in the itinerary is a trip to Broadway to catch a show.

And to ensure their trip goes with an even trendier swing they will be given £5,000 to blow on their spending spree.

By coincidence, the pair were already planning a trip to New York to celebrate Sally's 30th birthday next year. Mrs Everitt, who works at Nationwide, said: "I'm still pinching myself.

"I saw the competition on the packet and thought 'why not?' I never thought for a moment that I would be jetting off to New York.

"I'm really looking to hitting the shops with Sally. It'll be a great early birthday present for her."

Mrs Rachel, a part-time Woolwich plc worker from Exbury Close in Abbey Meads, can't wait to hit Tiffany's the famous New York jewellers.

"It's great and I can't wait for October," said the mum-of-one.

"It's all very exciting. I think I'll spend my share on clothes, jewellery and presents for my little girl."

The competition ran online and on packets from the Jacob's Crackers range over the past eight months.

More than 250,000 entries rolled in. Nathan King, marketing manager at Jacob's, said the winner could look forward to a trip of a lifetime. He added: "We wanted the Grand Day Out to include all the things Wallace and Gromit would love to do if let loose in New York."

Kevin Shoesmith