MIKE Harris is in clover after scooping the Kent Messenger’s Win An Apartment For A Year competition.

The competition was run in conjunction with Barrett housebuilders and the 26-year-old outdoor leisure services officer for Tonbridge and Malling council was invited to the company's Leybourne Park development at Larkfield this morning believing that he was perhaps going through another stage in the selection process with the other five competition finalists.

Instead Mike was told that the results of the readers’ poll were in - and he had won.

Mike, wholives with his parents in Otham Lane, Bearsted, was overjoyed, especially when taken on a tour of his new luxury one-bedroom apartment.

Mike toasted his success in Champagne with Bob Bounds, senior editor of the Kent Messenge, and Ann Moriarty and Nikki Ackerley, representing Barrett.

Mike will live in the apartment free for a year - whatever he choses to pay in “rent” - up to a maximum of £750 a month - will be doubled and returned to him by Barrett after 12 months, which he can then use as a deposit on any Barrett property he wants.

Meantime all his gas, electricity and water bills will be paid by Barrett, in order to help him save the maximum possible.

Mike said: “I can’t believe it! It’s amazing! You can bet Mum and Dad will be delighted too!”

The apartment comes fully furnished, complete with kitchen units, furniture and even bed linen, enabling Mike to look foward to spending his first night in the property that evening.

Mike said: “I’d only really just got to the point where I could even begin to look around for my own place - I’ve only just finished paying off my student loan.

“This flat is fantastic for me, I will be able to cycle to work at Kings Hill, yet I will still be near enough to keep in contact with Mum and Dad.”

But his sister Vickie Gadd who along with his three-year-old niece Rachel accompanied Mike to the presentation, warned: “Don’t think Mum’s still going to be doing your washing now you have your own washing machine.”