GILL BARKER got a shock when she discovered her new windows were on the house… in more ways than one. The Cobo pensioner couldn’t believe her luck when she got her chequebook out to pay Tim’s Window Services.

Mrs Barker, 72, was told by big-hearted boss Tim Prevel that her £1,400-worth of window work was free of charge – a gesture to help celebrate his firm’s 10-year anniversary.

An hour after hearing the news, she said: ‘I’m still shaking. It was such a shock, a beautiful gesture. At first I thought they were joking and I’ve been speechless ever since.’

Recently widowed Mrs Barker went on: ‘I had been going to spread them out over a few months because money is very tight at the moment.’

She added that she hoped to be able to repay Mr Prevel’s generosity with regular free cups of coffee for him and his team.

‘They are all welcome at my home at any time. They can come round for a cup of coffee and some chocolate biscuits.

‘I can’t believe it. Nothing good like this ever happens to me.’

Mr Prevel, 42, has worked as a window fitter since he was 16 and said he was glad to be able to surprise Mrs Barker.

‘In my eyes doing a job like this for an elderly lady gives me a lot of satisfaction,’ he said.

‘On this island you have to do a good job because word of mouth is so important to any business. The people on this island have given me a lot of work over the years so it’s really good to be able to give something back.’

He added that he would continue giving the occasional free deal throughout 2007.

‘I’m planning on shocking a few more customers with free services during the next year because I have been in business for a decade and want to celebrate it with the people who made it possible.’