A WEYMOUTH couple are looking forward to a holiday in the sun after scooping a prize at this year’s Weymouth Carnival and Air Show.

Patricia and John Neimer’s names were picked out of a hat after the couple entered a competition promoted in the souvenir carnival programme.

Participants were asked to fill out their details on a coupon and hand it in to carnival organisers on the big day back in August to be in with a chance of winning the holiday to Cyprus, worth £3,000.

Chris Steadman of Solar Overseas Property Ltd, which specialises in the sale and rental of properties in Cyprus, donated the fabulous prize of a two-week holiday for a group of people at a luxury apartment in Paphos.

Flights were arranged by Thomson Holidays in Weymouth and the flight costs were covered by Shalim Abdul, owner of the Balti House restaurant in Commercial Road.

Former engineer Mr Neimer, 73, and his wife Patricia, 62, a former local government officer, were delighted to hear they had won the prize. They jet off on May 9 next year and will be taking Mrs Neimer’s daughter Fiona Wilkinson, her husband James and their one-year-old son Joseph.

Mr Neimer, of Cranford Avenue, said: “My wife and I went into town for the carnival and had a thoroughly good day.

“We watched the displays including the Battle of Britain flight and the Red Arrows as well as the procession.

“We bought a programme and entered the competition and thought no more about it until we got an email a few days later out of the blue. We were delighted.

“We’ve been on holiday to the Greek Islands and Turkey before but never Cyprus so we are very much looking forward to it.”

Mr Neimer added: “We love the carnival – it’s great to see the town come alive.

“The organisers put so much effort into carnival to bring it all together.”

Carnival committee member Dennis Corbett from Weymouth Rotary Club said: “Thanks to Chris and Shalim we have made Patricia and John and family members Fiona, James and little Joseph a very happy bunch.

“The family fly out next May and on behalf of the carnival committee I would like to wish them a very happy holiday.”