Good cause for water bill winners

05/07/2006

A kind hearted couple from the north east have won £1,000 just by paying their water bill.

George and Jean Smith from Newcastle, entered into a free prize draw when they signed up to pay their water bill by direct debit.

The lucky winners, from Fawdon, were up against more than 8,000 Northumbrian Water customers, from Berwick down to North Yorkshire and across to the Pennines, who have also signed up for the first time to pay their water bills the easy way.
 
The couple are planning to use their winnings to treat Jean’s sister who now lives in Norfolk and but travelled 300 miles to Newcastle at the beginning of this year to look after Jean for three weeks while she was being treated in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital for pneumonia. 

Jean, retired from Rowntree, Fawdon after 27 years, said: “My sister selflessly came to Newcastle to look after me while I was poorly and unfortunately she is now in hospital, so I would like to use the money to help either with her medication or give her a special treat.”

Retired bus driver, George, said:  “We decided to go onto direct debit this year as my wife is bed bound so we don’t get out very often to pay bills – this seemed the easiest way to pay our water bill – and we received a discount.”

More than 900,000 of Northumbrian Water customers have so far chosen this no-hassle method to pay their water bill and receive the added bonus of a £5.50 annual discount.  Customers who wish to change their method of payment to direct debit should ring the Northumbrian Water customer centre on 0845 733 5566 or log onto www.nwl.co.uk.

For further information contact Carolyn King on 0191 301 6722.