WINNER of the Evening Advertiser's Australia holiday competition David Simpson can't really call it the trip of a lifetime he's already been Down Under last year.

Mr Simpson, 54, a Swindonian from Wood-hall Park, said that he still couldn't believe he had won.

He said: "It's the first time I've ever won anything and it turns out to be a holiday to Australia."

Mr Simpson was one of hundreds of readers to spend the summer collecting the 30 tokens needed to enter the holiday draw.

He said: "I wanted to go back to Australia anyway.

"I think that's what prompted me to enter the competition. We had such a good time, we thought we might as well see if we can go again."

Mr Simpson, an accountant working for the Learning and Skills Council, said that he thought it was a wind-up when he received the phone call from the Advertiser to say he had won.

"I said to my colleagues in the office I think somebody's having me on, I've just won a holiday to Australia.

"When I phoned my wife to tell her she didn't speak for about five minutes.

"All I heard was her whooping and jumping around the room."

Mr Simpson, and his wife Sylvia, are heading off to Oz on their £3,000 dream trip in February.

After flying to Melbourne they plan to drive up the coast to Adelaide and then take an overnight train to Sydney.

The Simpsons then plan to spend the second week of their fortnight staying in luxury waterfront accommodation in Sydney and explore the city.

Staying within a stone's throw of Bondai Beach and the famous Syndey Opera House, they should have plenty to keep them occupied.

The holiday arrangements have been taken care of by Swindon travel specialists Bakers Dolphin and the Simpsons will be flying courtesy of British Airways and Quantas.

Mr Simpson said: "My friends have been ribbing me a bit.

"They are all jealous because they entered the competition as well.

"My son reckons I might as well give up doing the lottery after winning this."