THESE childhood sweethearts are the lucky couple who have won an £8,000 wedding that has made their dream of tying the knot a reality.

Ben Bryan and Sophie Griffiths said they were “gobsmacked” when they found out they had won a competition run by your Worcester News in conjunction with the Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel at Smite, near Worcester.

The happy couple, who met as teenagers on separate family visits to a pub in Fernhill Heath about eight years ago, said they had only previously dreamed about their big day because of how expensive it would be.

Mr Bryan, who lives with Miss Griffiths in Northwick, Worcester, said it was a shock to hear they had won.

“You see all of these different things in the paper with people winning left, right and centre and we have never won anything other than £10 on the lottery,” said the 25-year-old former Chantry High School pupil who now works as an installation manager for Vodafone. “It’s absolutely amazing but very surreal. We still can’t quite believe it.”

The wedding package includes a wedding dress courtesy of Gatehouse Brides, suit hire for the bridegroom and best man courtesy of Greenwoods, wedding flowers courtesy of Sarah Hayes, wedding photography courtesy of Adams Photography, a civil ceremony, wedding breakfast and wedding supper courtesy of the Pear Tree Country Hotel.

Miss Griffiths, a 24-year-old senior receptionist at a doctors’ surgery in Shubbery Avenue, Worcester, who used to attend Bishop Perowne High School, said: “It’s amazing. It’s something we have dreamed about doing but we couldn’t have done anything anywhere near what we are going to do. We’re just really happy.”

The couple said although they are in the very early stages of planning their wedding day they have set a date – Saturday, October 10 – and said they hope to go on their honeymoon somewhere in the Caribbean.

The Pear Tree’s conference and banqueting co-ordinator Louise Campbell and events co-ordinator Daisy Philpott said: “We were excited about meeting the couple and we can’t wait to run their wedding.”

Worcester News promotions manager Sarah Bevan said: “I was delighted with the response to the competition and wanted to make everyone’s dream come true but unfortunately we could only have one winner. I’m so pleased for Ben and Sophie and I’m sure that they will have an amazing day.

“I would like to thank the Pear Tree and all of the other businesses who got involved to offer all the fabulous prizes.”