By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 12:08, Thursday, 06 September 2012

A secretary was delighted to “hang on” to her winning bid, which allowed her to pick up an iPad for little more than £1.

competition winner: Karen Edmondson with her ipad

Karen Edmondson, 46, from Dacre, Penrith, had texted five separate bids to be in with a chance of winning the News & Star’s reverse auction to win the new third generation iPad.

However, she entered just seven days into the two-week competition and was immediately told her bid of £1.06 was a unique bid – but not the lowest.

“I didn’t hear anything more until about 8pm on Sunday,” Karen explained. “I got a message then to say I now had the lowest unique bid, and the competition closed at midnight.

“I was just happy to hang onto it and actually win.”

Karen had entered the paper’s first-ever iPad reverse auction earlier this year but hadn’t tried again – until now.

She said: “I told myself I would get a new mobile phone and an iPad – I got the phone and decided I shouldn’t really get the iPad.

“I never really thought I would win, although my friend knows one of the other winners, so I knew there was a chance. I’m delighted”

Karen plans to use her new gadget mainly for emails and looking items up on the internet, although she admits the idea of downloading a few books appeals too.

Two entrants who may not have won the iPad were still delighted to receive £50 cash each. They were Lisa Boal, of Coniston Crescent, Moorclose, Workington, and Christine Pahlke, of Brackenrigg, Armathwaite.

First published at 11:26, Thursday, 06 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk