TWO Craven residents were the lucky winners of a Christmas competition run by Dawson's Department Store and the Craven Herald.

Vera Preston, of Skipton, won £300 in vouchers to spend at Dawson's, which opened a branch at Jerry Croft, Skipton, in April.

The retailer, which is based in Clitheroe, was originally opened as an ironmongers and fireplace merchant.

The Skipton store offered £300 in vouchers for the winner and £100 to the runner-up of the competition, which asked the question: In the Christmas song, what did my true love give to me? The answer was a partridge in a pear tree.

Mrs Preston is now looking forward to spending her vouchers.

"I'm pleased to have won," said Mrs Preston. "I was really surprised to get the telephone call saying I'd won. It will be nice to come in and see what I want."

The runner-up winner was Elizabeth Robinson, of Starbotton, who plans to spend her vouchers on a dinner service.

"It's a nice offer in the run-up to Christmas," said store manager Deborah Mackinder. "We've been busy trying to get the Dawson's name across to Skipton. We're a really well known family business in Clitheroe."