Betting shop punter nets £1m with 50p

Published on Saturday 23 February 2008 10:40

A PUNTER is believed to have become Britain's first betting shop millionaire after staking 50p on a bet with odds of more than two million to one.

The customer, who is yet to come forward to collect his winnings, landed an eight-horse accumulator last night to land the million, which is bookmaker William Hill's limit on horseracing.

The bookmaker says the winner is a regular in its Thirsk, North Yorkshire, betting shop and places similar bets almost daily, although he has never come close to winning on an major scale before.

William Hill spokesman David Hood described the win as a "staggering bet".

He said: "Even a script writer couldn't have dreamt this one up. His first winner was called 'Isn't That Lucky' in the 2.55 at Sandown on Friday afternoon and his last winner was 'A Dream Come True' in the 9.20 at Wolverhampton.

"It is a staggering bet, and earns him a place in history."