IT WAS an early birthday present for Thelma Kell when she was the latest winner of the IW County Press' cash giveaway.

She won £500 just days before her 85th birthday, and came into the newspaper office today (Monday) to collect her cheque from publisher and editor Alan Marriott.

Thelma, of Shanklin, said: "I don't normally enter competitions but my granddaughter was over from Southampton and I just said to her that we should go in for it, so we both did.

"I'm updating my house and the next job is the bathroom so the money will go towards that, as well as a celebration of some sort with my family."

The County Press also gave Thelma a bouquet of flowers for her birthday.

The cash giveaway competition ran for four editions of the paper, with a winner each week.