CHRISTMAS has come early for David Runnalls, who has won £500 to spend on anything he chooses.

The Lower Stanton St Quintin resident was picked in Newsquest’s competition Win £500 Cash for Christmas, after sending in coupons cut from the Gazette & Herald.

Mr Runnalls, 66, who retired two years ago as an insurance surveyor, is a keen photographer and will treat himself to a Canon EOS 1200D camera.

He said: “It’s one of those things I’ve been promising myself one for ages, but I can never justify it. It’s £300; more than I would usually spend on myself.

“I won a prize once for a photo I took of the lake at the bottom of Snowdon.”

He will also buy extra gifts for his wife and daughter, but they will remain a surprise until they are opened on Christmas Day.