PENSIONER John Flanagan was gobsmacked when a Daily Echo photographer called to his door with a cheque for £1,100.

The 81-year-old from Romsey Road, Maybush, Southampton, could not believe his eyes when he was told he was runner-up in our Find the Ball competition.

Mr Flanagan is now planning to spend his winnings on a holiday for himself and his wife Betty, 76, and to paint their house.

A regular reader he has playing the competition for more than 10 years but he has only ever won £15.

Mr Flanagan said: "It really came out of the blue. It was the furthest thought in my mind. It is funny because I won £10 on the lottery last week." He said he is a bit of a football and Saints fan and used to go and see them play when he was younger but now he prefers gardening and walking his dog.

Don't forget that you could also be a winner with tomorrow's Daily Echo. Our Find the Ball jackpot stands at £14,000 and runner-up prize of £1,200.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.