A YOUNG clubber who was left distraught after a nightclub's "fake" competition saw him conned out of winning a car has been compensated by the venue's new owners.

Colchester's former city centre nightclub Atik, in High Street, ran a competition earlier this year which, on the surface, offered a “real car” to the lucky winner.

Excited by the prospect of winning a brand new Mini, teenager Noah Edwards, from Colchester, was quick to enter the prize draw.

According to a poster advertising the competition, which featured a picture of the Mini, in order to be in with a chance of winning clubbers had to purchase a ticket for an event on March 31.

The winners would then be chosen from the ticket holders at random and announced on the night by a DJ.

However, both Noah and dad Gregory, 40, were left confused and upset after his teenage son was “tricked” by the popular venue, which told him he would actually only receive a toy car.

Echo: Venue - the former Atik nightclub in High Street, ColchesterVenue - the former Atik nightclub in High Street, Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

Since then, however, some five months on from the Gazette - the Echo's sister paper - reporting its first story on the saga, Noah has now been offered compensation by the venue's new owners, Epic Bars and Clubs.

Speaking to the Gazette, Gregory said: “Noah got a phone call last week, asking for a meeting from Epic’s operations manager.

“We were offered a cash sum and an evening [at the club] for him and five friends fully paid, which we took.

“I felt if it was the old owners offering this, it would’ve been a spit in the face. I presumed it was done.

"Epic didn’t have to do it and it was a nice gesture to accept."

Echo: Competition - the poster advertising the car giveaway from AtikCompetition - the poster advertising the car giveaway from Atik (Image: N/A)

Atik closed down in August and is due to reopen for clubbers under the new branding of Trilogy this month.

The nightclub is also undergoing a £600,000 refurbishment.

“As a Colchester lad all my life too it was nice to see they have picked up the pieces of for many a big part of the city and its nightlife," added Gregory.

“They have spent a lot on the refurb so the fact they are willing to spend money on the town and kept a city centre business alive is great news.

“Bottom line is Noah is happy which means I'm happy.”

Speaking at the time of the competition scandal, the venue's former bosses said "at no point" did they advertise the prize as being a real car.