Paul Hunter won a 'War of the Roses' to land the British Open title at Telford last night.

The Yorkshireman defeated his Lancastrian opponent Ian McCulloch 9-4 to pocket the £52,000 first prize and win his third title of the year.

Hunter, the reigning Regal Welsh Open and Benson and Hedges Masters champion, was never threatened after storming into a 3-0 lead as McCulloch, appearing in his first major final, failed to produce the same consistent scoring that had helped him to beat John Higgins and Mark Williams earlier in the tournament.

"I was happy with the way I played all week," a jubilant Hunter said. "I felt I was the best player all through the tournament and came out on top in the final."

Hunter, the world number nine from Leeds, exploited McCulloch's nervousness at appearing in his first major final by accounting for the first two frames.

And when McCulloch missed an easy blue in the third trying to dislodge the pink from a side cushion, Hunter went three frames clear by potting blue and pink.

McCulloch, the world number 43 from Preston, enjoyed a slice of luck in the fourth when he fluked a red and the 31-year-old went on to complete a break of 99 to get his first frame on the board.

But Hunter hit back with a run of 110 to lead 4-1 and went 5-2 ahead with a 90 in the seventh after McCulloch had won the sixth with a 70.

Hunter then extended his lead to four frames by winning the last of the session with two breaks of 35.

When they resumed, he claimed a 7-2 lead with an effort of 93 before McCulloch fired in a 135 total clearance.

He also made a break of 79 in the 12th but it was too late to prevent Hunter clinching the title.

When he won the Masters in 2001, Hunter revealed that a mid-session period of 'relaxation' in his hotel room with girlfriend Lyndsey Fell had helped him to recover from 6-2 down to beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9.

But he joked last night: "I wasn't behind in this match so there was no need for Lyndsey to come to the room. I won without that this time."

McCulloch, who collected £26,000, now rises to a provisional 26th in the rankings and was satisfied with his run to the final.

"I've had the week of my life but Paul thoroughly deserves to win," McCulloch said. "I expected to win the final after how I'd played this week but he played the better snooker. I've still got to be pleased with how I played here, though."