A LUCKY couple who won tickets to the Paralympic Games have given them to an injured soldier.

Jim and Maggie Robbins, of Abberton, won four tickets to the athletics after receiving a “lucky receipt” at Sainsbury’s.

The retired couple were faced with a difficult decision when they realised they would be on holiday.

Mr Robbins said: “It was extremely disappointing.

“Going to the Olympic Stadium would have been amazing, especially considering how difficult the tickets have been to get hold of.

“First of all we thought about friends and family, but for reasons similar to us they couldn’t go either.

“I wanted them to go to someone worthy.”

Mr Robbins decided to give them to Private Alex Stringer, of 23 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, after reading the soldier’s story in the Gazette.

Pte Stringer, of Canvey Island, lost both legs and his left arm in an explosion in Afghanistan and was receiving support from Colchester’s new personnel recovery centre.

Mr Robbins, 65, said: “I saw this story and thought ‘terrific, what a worthy young man’. He tries so hard and raises money for the Help for Heroes charity.”

The father-of-two was unable to accept the tickets because his wife is expecting their third child around the same time.

Instead, Pte Stringer recommended an injured colleague to use them.

Mr Robbins said: “We are more than happy to give them to Alex’s friend. He was in hospital with Alex.

“We don’t know the extent of the man’s injuries, but he is clearly a worthy person.

“He was over the moon about it.”