FRIDAY the 13th proved lucky for a newly-wed couple who are on their way to a romantic St Valentine's weekend stay in New York - for £14.

Love and luck were in the air for Sajjad and Zahida Karim when they became one of just 50 couples to win tickets for a cut-price break in the Big Apple.

Millions of callers swamped a telephone hotline set up by British Airways which was offering a pair of airline tickets and hotel accommodation for just £14 to mark St Valentine's Day.

Sajjad and Zahida, who were married just six months ago, were one of the 50 lucky couples to get through and claim their trip to remember.

"I couldn't believe it when I got through," said Sajjad, 27, a solicitor with law firm Steele, Ford and Newton, Brierfield, and Liberal Democrat councillor.

"You had to ring a special number at a certain time and I was straight on the phone. I knew there would be millions of people trying the same thing because it was such a bargain but I gave it a try and got through."

The couple spent their honeymoon in Florida but neither had ever been to New York before.

"We're staying in the Hilton at the World Trade Centre and we plan to see as much of the city as possible," added Sajjad, who represents Brierfield on Pendle Council. Zahida, also 27, is a teacher.

The couple travelled to Birmingham yesterday for the flight across the Atlantic today. They will spend tonight and tomorrow evening in New York before coming back down to earth in Brierfield on Sunday.

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