Was it the luck of the Irish or just good fortune that Barry Smyth won a £1,500 Fraser Hart pendant in kmfm’s competition?

It was neither according to the winner, known as Paddy, from Yalding.

The Irishman looked at the position of the sun to work out when the heart-shaped gem would fall out of its ice chamber.

The competition took place at Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, with the price provided by jeweller Fraser Hart.

Mr Smyth of Medway Avenue, was one minute off of the exact time a container of ice melted with his guess of 76 hours, 26 minutes and 41 seconds. The sculpture, titled Fremlin Ice, was revealed on Saturday and thawed out on Valentine’s Day.

The 34-year-old catering manager said: “I couldn’t believe it. It’s fantastic to win something for once. I only had a go because I was walking past.”

The winner plans to give his prize to 25-year-old girlfriend Jo Foote.
He said: “I’ll probably let Jo have it as I don’t think it will suit me. She’ll have to be nice to me, though.”