FIVE lucky winners are set for a free trip to a drive-in movie organised by a Basingstoke college.

Maria Boarer, from Kempshott, Basingstoke, won a free ticket to the screening of the iconic British film The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine, at Basingstoke College of Technology's North Site car park on Saturday, September 30.

Maria said: "I entered this competition because I am curious to find out what it is like to watch a film from a car.

"As I might not have had the get up and go' to get a ticket myself, I am glad I won it and will therefore hopefully enjoy a new experience.

"It now remains to be seen who of my family and/or friends will join me in our car."

Purchasing tickets: Admission is £15 per car - which will cover the cost for as many passengers as there are seatbelts per vehicle - and tickets are available from BCOT on 01256 306381, Nelsons Diner and The Gazette's Church Street office, during normal office hours.

Tickets need to be purchased in advance by September 21. The gates for the drive-in will open at 6.30pm and the film will start at 8.30pm.

Other winners of tickets in the competition which ran in The Gazette were I Pullen, from Basingstoke, Tracey Grigoleit, from Sherfield, P Ryan, from Baughurst, and P Smy, from Odiham.

The college car park is being transformed into a drive-in movie theatre for one night only - and the college is hoping to attract a full house of 233 cars.

A range of American-style refreshments, which will be sold by staff from Nelsons Diner, of Kingsclere, will add to the special atmosphere at this unique event for Basingstoke.

The Italian Job has been picked as the drive-in movie as this ties in with the theme of a project being undertaken by 18 National Diploma Motor Sport students at the college.

The students have been restoring three Minis to their former glory in the style of the vehicles that were used in the famous movie, and they are scheduled to have completed all three by the end of this month.

The audience gets to hear the film by tuning their car radio to a given frequency.

The drive-in spectacular is being sponsored by Wood MINI in Odiham, Basingstoke-based Centerprise International, Clydesdale Bank, Gazette Newspapers and Whitchurch company Planned Lighting Maintenance Limited.