Shaun's going to Iceland

Feezer store staff made a shopping delivery with a difference when they were asked to surprise a Shropshire man with a special birthday present.

Shaun Bowen, of Allscott, near Wellington, had always wanted to go to Iceland so his wife, Anita, came up with the idea to get the food store with the same name to give him tickets for the holiday.

Yesterday, on his 40th birthday, he had a shock when the council officials he thought he was waiting at work for turned out to be a delivery man from Iceland, in Wellington.

Mrs Bowen, 43, said: "His dream has always been to go to Iceland. I really tried my hardest to make it happen.

"I thought it would be nice if he could get the present delivered by an Iceland lorry. The store was only too happy to help."

She said her husband, transport manager at haulier firm Maiden's of Telford, had no idea about his surprise, although their children, Nathan, 15, and 13-year-old Laura-Beth, and his colleagues were in on the secret.

"The whole plan went perfectly and I think Shaun thought the whole thing was just a joke to start with," she said. "I am so pleased we managed to keep it a secret. We will be going to Reykjavik next month."

Mr Bowen said: "I have always wanted to go to Iceland because I like remote places and I have seen Iceland on TV and it looks great. They have ice lakes and amazing scenery, so I am really looking forward to it.

"Everybody did well to keep the secret quiet and all day colleagues have been making up excuses to make sure I stayed in the office until the Iceland van arrived. It was a great surprise."