A LUCKY Southampton family has won a VIP trip to London's Golden Jubilee celebrations thanks to the Daily Echo.

Retired bank clerk Ruth Pearce, 55, entered our competition to win a free golden ticket for four to the events in London on June 3 and 4.

Her name was among 50 pulled from the hat in the national competition entered by 11,500 people. Together with husband Doug and two others, she will get free travel on South West Trains to London and back and a free two night stay at the Hilton Greenpark Hotel.

They will have the best seats in the house in the principle Queen Victoria Memorial South Stand opposite The Palace. These seats will provide superior viewing of the celebrations on The Mall.

They'll get a privileged look at the treasures behind the closed doors of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and special visits to Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London.

"It is just brilliant," said Ruth, of Testlands Avenue, Nursling. I didn't expect to win when I entered. I really want to go to this. I think London will be buzzing that weekend. It will be lovely to be part of it."

Ruth, who has still to decide who is to accompany her and Doug, is a big fan of the Queen.

"I am a royalist," she said. "I was very sad about the Queen Mother. I think the royal family does a fantastic job and I would not like to see them go. The Queen is my favourite because I think she appears a bit stand-offish but I think she would be really nice to get to know."

What celebrations are you holding for the Queen's Golden Jubilee? Let us know by ringing the newsdesk on 023 8042 4519 or using the e-mail link above.