Small flutter scoops big fortune

Mr Wonnacott could more than double his winnings next week

A man who scooped more than £300,000 with a £2 flutter says he plans to upgrade his wife's K-reg Metro car.

Tony Wonnacott, 44, of Teignmouth, Devon, won £310,000 after correctly selecting the winners of six races.

He placed his £2 Scoop 6 bet at Ladbrokes in Teignmouth before going off to watch Exeter City play Morecambe as they pushed for promotion.

"I've been shellshocked since I found out last night - I hardly slept a wink," said Mr Wonnacott.

I reckon I'm just about even with the bookies now Tony Wonnacott

"I like a little flutter and usually place a small bet on a Saturday, but until now the maximum I've won is about £300 or £400 - never anything like this.

"I keep thinking I'm going to wake up in a minute and find out it's all been a dream."

Mr Wonnacott says he has been betting - and losing - on the horses since he was a teenager.

After the full-time whistle at St James Park, Exeter, he called back into the betting shop to check out the results and discovered he had won £310,408.40.

Mr Wonnacott has been having a regular flutter for about 30 years

"I phoned my wife straight away and told her that I've now probably just about covered my losses since the late 1970s - I reckon I'm just about even with the bookies now," he said.

But Mr Wonnacott's fortune could more than double if he lands the Tote Scoop 6 bonus by picking the winner of just one race next Saturday.

He will then collect a further £400,000 to become one of Britain's biggest winners for a £2 stake.

"It's a scary thought, but we'll be going to one of the race meetings next week and I'll try my luck again," Mr Wonnacott said.

He said he has no immediate plans to spend much of his winnings.

'Overnight legend'

"I won't rush into any decisions, but I'll probably give me family something," he said.

"My wife's got a K-reg Metro, so I think we'll maybe get that upgraded and after that we'll just wait and see."

Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "Tony is living proof that if at first you don't succeed it pays to keep trying for 30 more years.

"Alistair Darling could do a lot worse than to follow Tony's tips.

"We'll have our fingers crossed next weekend that he bags the bonus. He's become a West Country legend overnight."