A NEW FOREST newsagent is furious that a new shop has opened across the road from him with a lottery machine - just months after he was turned down for one.

Hossein Moghadam took over the busy Londi's Brockenhurst store in Brookley Road just over a year ago.

The shop, which sells a wide range of goods including newspapers, magazines and gifts, has been a firm favourite in the village for more than 30 years.

A Tesco Express store replaced the family-run Purkess grocery store just a few yards away earlier this month.

Mr Moghadam said: "What really made me angry is how come Tesco, which has only been here for a couple of weeks, is good enough to have it and this shop, which has been here over 30 years, isn't?"

Camelot wrote to Mr Moghadam in January to say his application to install a lottery terminal had been unsuccessful.

The letter said: "Opportunities to become an agent for the National Lottery are very limited as the nationwide selection programme is completed.

"If any opportunity arises in your area you will be given full consideration along with other applicants."

Mr Moghadam said: "My customers kept asking me when I was going to start doing the lottery but I accepted their decision and decided to wait my turn. This shop has a very good customer record and I couldn't believe it when I saw Tesco were advertising the lottery. I feel I have been left out."

Retailers receive five per cent of ticket sales, plus one per cent commission on prizes paid out above £10 and below £200.

A spokesman for Camelot told the Daily Echo: "The policy for retailer selection takes into account criteria such as current sales, projected revenue, footfall, store size, access - and the level of demand. Camelot also takes recommendations based on local insight from our representatives on the ground.

"The policy operates on the same basis in each area and is the same for all retailers, be they independent or multiples. We are committed to working closely with our retail partners - it is in all of our interests to maximise sales to benefit the good causes."

Camelot currently has more than 110,000 retailers on a list who have expressed an interest in offering the National Lottery service.