A GENEROUS woman who won a VW Beetle in a competition has given it to her friend.

Essex Motors, based on St John’s Road in Clacton, set up a competition on its Facebook page to win a silver 2003 VW Beetle worth about £1,000.

The competition attracted nearly 900 entrants with mother-of-three, Louise Picton winning the iconic car.

Her name was picked out at random during a prize draw.

However, Louise decided not to keep the car for herself but to pass it on to her friend, Sarah Weald.

Louise, 50 and Sarah, 45, know each other through mutual friends and their children all go to the same school - Moulsham Junior School in Chelmsford.

Louise said: “I shared the competition days before it closed as one of my friends was desperate for the car.

“If more people liked and shared it, she stood more of a chance.

“She doesn’t have a car and she’s a single mum and it just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Essex Motors contacted Louise about her win but a couple of days later she got back in touch saying she wanted to give the car to her friend.

Louise called Sarah to tell her of the good news and she picked up her dream car, complete with a years MOT.

Grateful Sarah, who is a mother-of-two, said:“Louise said she shared the competition for me and didn’t need the car as she already had one.

“It couldn’t be any better. I’ve always wanted a VW Beetle, I learnt to drive in a 1964 one when I was younger.”

Generous Essex Motors owner Dean Clark said: “We’re just giving something back to the community as an independent business.”