Stephanie Cockbill and Darren Wing with their daughter Lillie-Anna (30770)A COUPLE are a step closer to their dream wedding after battling it out to win the Wiltshire Times' wedding competition.

Darren Wing, 33, and Stephanie Cockbill, 27, of Salter Close, Trowbridge, won the prize of money and vouchers towards their big day, including rings, cars, photographs and champagne, all provided by local companies.

Groom-to-be Darren Wing, who works as a warehouse supervisor, said: "We win the occasional £10 on the lottery but this competition was like winning the jackpot.

"We are both so happy, it's a dream come true. Everyone wants their wedding day to be special but it can be so expensive to arrange. This is a real weight off our minds."

The couple, who have a three-month-old daughter, Lillie-Anna, were selected along with four other couples to go through to the final round in the Wiltshire Times tent at the West Wilts Show on Saturday.

They won through a series of rounds including Mr and Mrs questions and a treasure hunt. Then the two remaining couples took turns to select envelopes and Miss Cockbill picked the winning one.

She said: "I was really shocked but it was fantastic. We've been meaning to get married for a long time. I don't normally enter competitions but I always buy the Wiltshire Times and thought this would be perfect for us.

"One good thing is I'll be able to get rid of my surname at last, although I don't know if Wing is that much better. But it will mean our family is finally complete."

Despite working together for four years, the couple only got together on Valentine's Day 2003. Mr Wing then proposed at Easter last year.

Miss Cockbill said: "I had no idea he was going to propose. We'd just eaten a huge roast dinner but he kept asking if I wanted some chocolate. I eventually said yes and he brought in a giant Easter egg. I opened it up and there was an engagement ring inside."

The couple are now looking forward to planning their wedding, which they hope will take place in May next year.