THE Royal Forest of Dean Angling Club organises an annual raffle to raise funds to support their work of improving facilities for disabled anglers and training for youngsters.

The winner gets the opportunity to fill a shopping trolley in a three-minute trolley dash at the Co-op in Cinderford.

The prize was won by Bream man, David Fryer, but when he was told of his win he realised he would be 4,000 miles away in Canada on the day!

After a hurried phone call to his cousin, Claire Tremayne from Lydney, he found a more than willing substitute.

Claire said that over the years she had been telling her carp angler husband Ken that she would love to do a trolley dash, so her dream had come true!

The store was readied by manager Steve Vaughn and his willing staff half an hour before normal opening time so Claire had a clear run around of the well-stocked Co-op aisles. Dave Fryer's wife, Lyndey, had emailed from Canada her last minute "wish list" of goodies for Claire to go for.

Watched by store staff, club officials, friends and family, Claire managed to fill the trolley to the brim and was delighted to amass over £270-worth of goods.

Club organiser Eileen Summers said: "We invest over £1,000 each year in an annual training courses for youngsters so the proceeds from this raffle makes a significant contribution.

"We are so grateful to Steve Vaughn at the Co-op, and all the people who put so much effort into making this event a success. We must make a special mention of Robbie Allen and Nick Oakley of Angling 4 a Catch who between them sold over 250 tickets."