Neighbour from Heaven

For more than 30 years she has been a fantastic neighbour to the woman next door - and now she has been rewarded for all her selfless acts of friendship.

Margaret, aged 70, of Brandsby Grove, Huntington, was the outright winner of our Neighbours from Heaven competition and has £1,000 in McArthurGlen vouchers to prove it.

She won the £1,000 spending spree at the Fulford designer outlet after being nominated by her elderly neighbour Edith Cross.

In her nomination, Edith said that she could "go on and on" praising Margaret, adding: "She has been the most loving, caring and generous lady for over 30 years."

The judges were especially impressed with Margaret because she has been such a consistently good neighbour for so long and because of the charity work she has undertaken within the community.

When she was told she was the winner of the competition, Margaret was speechless.

"I have lived next door to Edith since 1953 and we have faced some struggles in our time," she said.

"She called me early one morning when she could not move her legs. I had to help drag her upstairs as she crawled on her hands and knees and then I called the doctor.

"She is such a sweet lady," she added. "When she comes back from a holiday I put on her heating and make her sandwiches because we are friends.

"I like to help people, but I don't think it's anything special. I am so surprised to get this award. I never win anything."

Edith, aged 82, was overcome with emotion when describing how important Margaret is to her: "She's worth everything to me. Since my husband died 31 years ago, she's been absolutely wonderful. I think the world of her," she said.

So how is Margaret spending her vouchers? "I would like a new microwave and was going to treat myself to a winter coat in the January sales, but I think I'll get one before that now," she said.

"It goes without saying that I'll buy Edie a present and my family will also benefit, too."

Amanda Wright, marketing manager at McArthurGlen, said: "Mrs Hoyle is a very worthy winner. The judges recognised that she has been a Neighbour from Heaven for more than 30 years and were particularly impressed with the fact that she is 70 and still putting herself out for others.

"She is a very deserving winner - just the sort of person we're looking for."

Evening Press Assistant Editor Bill Hearld, who organised the competition, said: "We wanted to take the limelight away from the neighbours from hell who always grab the headlines.

"This competition attracted many worthy entries and showed that neighbourliness is alive and well in our region," he added.

"It is heartening to know there are an awful lot of people out there who are selflessly helping others with no thought of reward."