A Sussex man has made the finals of a contest to find Britain's best granddad after his seven-year-old granddaughter secretly nominated him.

Ray Woolven goes much further than giving his three grandchildren pocket money now and then.

He takes soccer-mad Kyle, four, to Brighton and Hove Albion matches and taught Rebecca, seven, to ride her bike.

He has transformed his back garden into a wonderland for the children and their little brother Danny, two. Now it resembles a park complete with swings, slides and trampolines.

He even made a dreamcatcher to chase away nightmares for Rebecca, who says he is magic.

He is so special to her she secretly nominated him in a contest to find the UK's best grandparent.

It was no surprise to the youngsters, who live in Telscombe Cliffs, near Brighton, when he came top of the first heat to win the Southern regional final.

Ray is one of just eight granddads through to the UK final of the 2003 Age Concern Grandparent of the Year competition.

Ray, 58, and his wife Rita, 60, of Seaview Road, Peacehaven, love to spend time with their grandchildren - and the feeling is mutual.

Rebecca said: "Granddad spends a lot of time making me laugh and we always get in a sticky mess whenever we eat ice cream.

"We make things together and always have fun. He even put sugar on my chips for a joke and I still ate them. There is always lots of laughter in my granddad's house."

Ray had no idea Rebecca had entered him into the contest until he received a letter telling him he was a finalist.

He said: "It was a bit of a shock but it is very nice.

"Children are more restricted now so I try to make their lives as magical as possible.

"My grandchildren give me a reason to do things I wouldn't normally do, to live my life instead of putting things off. I have fun with them - that is what it's all about."

The annual competition, supported by Woolworths, celebrates the role of grandparents.

Ray and Rita will take Rebecca to the award ceremony at the British Academy, London, on October 15. The winner will receive a prize worth up to £2,000.

Nicole Lander, head of corporate affairs at Woolworths, said: "Deciding on nine finalists was very difficult but Rebecca's nomination really impressed us."