A BRICKLAYER was true to his word when his girlfriend won a Spanish holiday in an "Open the Box" event at a Rawtenstall pub.

Nicholas Threader, 26, had promised to propose to Janet Hardman, 25, if she won the holiday and, in front of all the customers, he dropped to his knees and said, "Janet, will you marry me?"

After a pause and encouragement from regulars at the Sun Inn, she replied "Yes."

The couple, who live at Fallbarn Crescent, Rawtenstall, bought their raffle ticket for £1 at the Bank Street pub and, when their number was called, Nicholas answered three easy questions and gave the key to Janet, saying "If you win the holiday I'll marry you."

Janet had a choice of 15 boxes to open and said, "I hope I don't win the booby prize of a potato."

Luck was on her side when landlord Steve Hooton opened the envelope and told the couple they would be going to Spain in March.

It will be only the second time that Nicholas has flown and he is apprehensive about flying, but he said: "I will be holding Janet's hand all the way, so I won't be scared."

The "Open the Box" draw is held at the Sun pub every Thursday and Sunday, so another couple coul d be heading for a holiday abroad if they are lucky.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.