A RINGWOOD couple who won £500 for paying their water bill online are planning to donate some of the money to victims of the Philippines typhoon.

Pete Gritton and Gill Redmond, of Hightown, won a prize draw organised by electronic billing service MyBillsOnline.

Both are customers of Sembcorp Bournemouth Water (SBW).

Pete, a seasonal craft workshop leader at The Lantern Community in Ringwood, said the win had come as "a huge surprise".

He added: "We're going to donate some of the money to the Disasters Emergency Committee which is coordinating the appeal for victims of the Philippines typhoon.

"The rest will pay for a radio microphone to help me when I'm calling for folk band Jigfoot.

"My partner, Gill, is a cellist in the band which plays for ceilidhs, barn dances and parties.

“We are holding a ceilidh on January 4 2014 at Ringwood Waldorf School to raise money for WaterAid.

It's a public event, tickets are £8 and £5 and all are welcome."