A FATHER-OF-TWO, who was injured in the Gulf War, has won the Daily Echo's unsung hero competition.

Vincent Godley, 36, of Pound Lane, Poole, and his family have won a holiday to Malta courtesy of the Echo and Andrex.

He was nominated as a hero by his children Lucy, eight, and Thomas, five. They wrote: "Our daddy is not only the best daddy in the world, he deserves a mention.

"He is in HM Forces and was in the second Gulf War for 14 weeks. They flew him home at the end of April after being injured on Good Friday and having major surgery in Basra."

Vincent, an army commando in the Royal Artillery, was left with nerve damage after a piece of metal went through his arm as they cleared an area of land.

While recuperating he's been picking the children up from school and helping them with their homework.

He said: "I was shocked to win. Don't get me wrong, I might be a big butch guy but it still goes to your heart when you hear something like this from your kids."

We got together with Andrex and asked you to nominate an unsung hero you thought deserved a reward. First prize was a holiday for four to Malta and two lucky runners-up scooped a weekend away in London.

Anita Rigler, 44, a watch co-ordinator for Dorset Police, who lives in Verwood, was a runner-up in the competition. Her 16-year-old son Carl nominated her because she went back to adult education at QE School to learn GCSE maths so she could help him study.

She said: "I'm chuffed. I found it very difficult going back to school again.

"We're always so busy we never get away so it will be great to go to the London Eye and Natural History Museum for a bonding session."

Matthew Hawkins, 13, from Christchurch Road, Bournemouth was also a runner-up having been nominated by his mum Michelle.

Michelle said: "He's had a difficult time, he's grown up without a dad and never complained."

The first 200 nominations received also won an Andrex Mini Bean Puppy.