A HAMPSHIRE dad who describes his life as "tough" is celebrating the start of 2007 after winning a £200,000 luxury apartment in Portugal.

Nick Thomas-Webster won the prize in a digital TV station competition, taking on record holding ocean rower Sally Kettle among other potential winners in the grand final shown on air.

The 55-year-old actor and legal consultant, from Ringwood, says his win will change his life after struggling for years coping with a son who suffered serious brain damage after being knocked over by a car, and the resulting break-up of his marriage.

"To say I'm dreaming is an understatement," said the single father-of-six. "I've never won anything in my life other than £10 on the lottery and this win really will change my life and give me some security for my retirement.

"You could have knocked me down with a feather when I won the top prize of a two-bed, two-bath luxury apartment on the Algarve.

"I've got my eldest daughter Verity-Jayne to thank for knowing the answer to one of the questions. I recently attended her Fresher's Fair at Bournemouth and Poole College and was given a bottle of peri-peri sauce from Nandos by a man from Portugal.

"So when asked the question in the competition Which European Country is associated with peri-peri chicken?' I knew the answer."