A CRUISE, two trips to the World Cup in Paris and an all-inclusive holiday in Jamaica are among the prizes won by a Kempsey competition enthusiast.

Valerie Dallimore runs Kempsey Compers, 13 people devoted to entering competitions.

The group includes people of all ages, but chiefly women. They meet once a month in the community centre to swap ideas and entry forms, as well as the good news about recent wins and near misses.

One member is currently having a £10,000 kitchen installed on the strength of a competition win, while another is waiting to find out whether she has won a watch or a set of self-tanning products.

"Sometimes you are aiming for the big prize, like a car, and you win one of the runner-up prizes, which might be something you already have, such as a food processor," said Mrs Dallimore, of Green Street.

"Or perhaps you win something for the garden, when you live in a flat."

Having started entering competitions when she left school in 1972, she began running Kempsey Compers in 1990 and writes for two magazines for enthusiasts, Simply Prizes and Winner's Friend.

She has seen trends in competitions change over the years, from the tie breaker style, "I like Brand X because..." to the instant wins and first-out-of-the-bags.

"We like the tie breakers, but they are getting increasingly difficult to find," she said.

The group will be moving to the Church Rooms in April and would welcome new members.

Call Valerie on 01905 821462.