Ref. 30878-16FRIENDLY Alistair Cove has won the title of Evening Advertiser paperboy of the year.

The competition for the best paperboy or girl in the Swindon area, which was sponsored by Domino's Pizza, was launched during National Newspaper Week.

The 20-year-old has been delivering the Adver for the last five years in the Cricklade Road area of Highworth.

Alistair, who has special needs, has won a limited edition Coca Cola mountain bike.

He said: "I feel very pleased. I like doing my paper round because I like all the customers.

"I want to say thank to everyone who voted for me.

He also wanted to thank Dave Vowles, who used to run Woodbridge Newsagents, for giving him the job in the first place.

Alistair went to Crowdy's Hill School and then did a vocational course at Swindon College. He enjoys going to the gym and attends the Rowdy Bunch youth group.

When he is not delivering papers, he does work experience in the post room of Nationwide.

Alistair is looking for a job but a part-time one so he can fit his paper round in.

His mum, Ainslie, said: "We are really proud he won and quite surprised too because there were more than 500 paperboys and girls who entered.

"The customers are really lovely and supportive. Somebody must have made a real effort to write in, which is very nice."

The entrants were judged by the country's oldest paperboy, Charlie Reynolds, 88, of Ermin Street and Andy Heron, retail sales executive at the Evening Advertiser.

Andy said: "Alistair has been delivering papers for the last six years.

"The customers who voted for him said he is as regular as clockwork. He has never missed a delivery no matter what the weather is like.

"He was also praised for being a friendly and nice person."

Bhavani Vadde