HUNDREDS of residents queued for freebies given away by Lidl at its own version of a cola lorry. 

The queue stretched from The Triangle in Bournemouth town centre all the way down Commercial Road at one point. 

Some had been waiting in the cold as early as 10am on Saturday, November 30 ahead of the lorry horn blaring at midday signifying the start of the giftbox giveaway. 

Budget supermarket Lidl had come with 250 large giftboxes stuffed in the trailer of the lorry – decorated with the branding of its Freeway cola. 

Stephen, Marie and RileyStephen, Marie and Riley (Image: Daily Echo) (Image: Daily Echo) Long queue stretching down Commercial RoadLong queue stretching down Commercial Road (Image: Daily Echo)

 

Only the first 250 families were able to receive the box, a fraction of the amount of people who turned up, but other goodies were handed out such as nibbles. 

Stephen Breeze visited along with partner Marie and son Riley, from Wool, to collect their free box. 

But it wasn’t for themselves; the family said they waited hours for the free gift so it could be raffled away for charity. 

Mum Marie said: “It’s for charity, hopefully it will be raffled away next week, for our friends at the Food Dude. 

“It will be raffled at a Christmas party at the Carey Community Hall in Wareham.” 

The Williams familyThe Williams family (Image: Daily Echo) GiveawayGiveaway (Image: Daily Echo) (Image: Daily Echo)

Meanwhile, the Williams family had been waiting since 10.15am in The Triangle for their free Lidl giftbox and were number 53 in the queue. 

Mum said: “You think we got here early, so you can imagine how early the ones at the front of the queue must have been waiting. 

“Our giftbox has Christmas decorations inside and ribbons, cola, a cake tin... it’s something for the boys really.” 

Event organiser Rachel said that while 250 boxes were for the first 250 families to be in the queue, a further 25 random boxes also had £100 vouchers to spend on shopping at Lidl. 

Lidl’s cola lorry is currently embarking on a long road trip across the country, visiting town centres and giving away the free giftboxes. 

It started in Dundee, Scotland, on November 14 and was at Luton on November 28 before coming to Bournemouth. 

Its next stop will be a short journey across the A31 and over to Southampton on December 1, where Lidl is expecting large crowds.