PENSIONER John Allen kicked off the World Cup in style today by scooping the £28,000 jackpot in the Echo's Find the Ball competition.

It was a double celebration for the retired 67-year-old widower from Oaklands Park, Warmwell, near Dorchester, because he won the popular competition's £1,700 runner-up prize just a few weeks ago.

He said then that one day he hoped to win the jackpot but a delighted Mr Allen said today that he never expected his dream to come true that quickly.

He added: "I wish it could happen every week. I am over the moon."

John was given his big win news after he returned home loaded with shopping for his freezer. He had to sit down after hearing he had won.

He said: "I am a big fan of Find the Ball and I do it every week but I didn't know what to think when I was told I'd won the jackpot. It has just about sunk in now and it is a wonderful feeling."

John, a retired printer, used his runner-up money to pay off a car repair bill but he has bigger vehicle plans for his jackpot windfall.

He said: "I have only just returned from nine weeks in Australia so I won't be spending it on another holiday, but I do have some idea what I want to spend the money on.

"I have always wanted a motor home so I could tour Europe, particularly Spain during the winter months so I could get away from all the rain and cold over here.

"So buying a motor home is a real possibility but I'll think properly about that later. At the moment I am still celebrating.

"I had only just bought a bottle of whisky, so I'll be enjoying a few glasses of that tonight."

The new jackpot for this weekend will be £6,000 with a £1,000 runner-up prize.