A YOUNG family won a one-in-a-million trip to visit the Big Apple when they became the millionth customer of an insurance firm.

Lorry driver Anthony Power, 30, scooped the surprise £3,000 holiday to New York when he bought a car insurance policy from Hastings Direct.

His wife Sarah was picking up the couple’s two young daughters Aimee-Grace, 7, and Indie-Mae, 4, from school when she got the call to break the news.

She said: “I was standing in the playground and when they said we had won the trip we all screamed,”

“The girls were so excited, especially Aimee-Grace. She’s told all here friends and everyone knows about it – they can’t wait.

“We’ve never won anything so when she said that it was a bit unreal. We’ve always wanted to go to New York but never had the chance.”

As part of the prize, the family also gets £1,000 spending money.

Anthony, of Oakhurst, said: “We simply can’t believe it. We have watched Friends religiously for years and visiting New York has always been on our wish list and now we have the chance to actually visit Central Park. We have just moved house and had no plans for a holiday this year – this could not have happened at a better time.

“The girls have already started their shopping lists.”

At its Bexhill head office, the landmark moment was celebrated with the release of fireworks and two American cheerleaders joined the company mascot Harry Hastings to award a prize to the call centre agent who sold the millionth policy – Garry Jones.

Garry also won a holiday to New York worth £2,000.

Edward Fitzmaurice, CEO of Hastings Direct, said: “Anthony – like a million other customers this year – has chosen to buy our insurance and have us protect them.

“We are grateful to him for choosing us and delighted to be able to celebrate this millionth milestone with him. We wish him and his family a fantastic bon voyage on their holiday of a lifetime.”