ANITA Graham is a favourite with her punters and now she's trying to convince a judging panel she'd be a winner anywhere.

Anita, 37, has made the final six in the Betting Shop Manager of the Year award. Not only is she the only woman in the line-up but she's the only representative from south of the border.

Anita, of Woolston, Southampton, is in charge of Totesport's branch in Eastleigh's Boyatt Wood Centre and her name was put forward by her loyal customers.

She will be attending a glittering awards ceremony at the Carlton Tower Hotel, London, this weekend and will know if she's simply the best on Monday.

At stake is an all-expenses paid trip to the 2005 Singapore International Cup.

Anita, who has been running the Boyatt Wood office since it opened two and a half years ago, was looking forward to the challenge, adding: "It would mean a change in my life career-wise and I would like to try to change the image of bookmakers. On EastEnders and in the press, it looks so bad. Gambling in bookmakers is fun."

She believes the secret of a good betting shop is creating a friendly atmosphere. She said: "We give our customers cups of tea, biscuits and cakes. If the staff are friendly, then the customers are."