WINNER Robert ‘Rab’ Thomson is thanking his lucky Stardust after he scooped the top prize in the Weymouth Carnival Draw.

Rab is the new owner of a Mazda2 TS worth £9,820 after his name was drawn from the hat on Wednes-day night.

He bought the tickets after watching glam rocker Alvin Stardust perform on the beach stage.

There’s only one slight problem though – Rab can’t drive.

“I’m considering my options,” the 51-year-old said.

Father-of-three Rab, who lives next to the Royal Exchange pub at Weston on Portland, explained how he went shopping in Weymouth on carnival day and decided to see Alvin’s show.

He said: “The first record I bought was My Coo Ca Choo by Alvin Stardust so I thought I would go and have a look.”

Rab was asked by Royal Exchange landlady Jessica Short to buy some draw tickets after he phoned to say he was watching the show on the beach. He ended up buying a book of five, keeping two of the tickets for himself.

He added: “I drove tanks when I was in the Royal Tank Regiment but never a car.

“My eyesight is not good enough for me to take lessons now. Maybe I’ll get someone to chauffeur me around.”

Rab said the car, supplied by Wey Valley Mazda, was his first big win.

The second prize of a Haven holiday went to G Helms of Weymouth while B White, also of Weymouth, was awarded third prize of a child’s ride-on car donated by Howleys Toymaster. The winner of the top-of-the-range Thomson holiday on Crete was A Span of Weymouth.

Carnival organisers expect to hand out thousands to local charities after this year’s extravaganza.

A major operation to count the coins began yesterday with local volunteers from Leukaemia Research drafted in to the Dorset Echo offices to help.

Rotary carnival chairman Robert Sedgbeer said: “We’ll know the final figure in a few days but indications are that it has been a bumper year. People were very generous, especially along the procession route.

“Volunteers from Leukaemia Research ran a stall and kindly agreed to help count. We’ll be making a donation from carnival funds.”

Mr Sedgbeer said it had been a ‘fantastic’ carnival, adding: “It was a credit to the team who put it together.”

Tourism spokesman for the borough Roger Allen paid tribute to the volunteers who made the carnival a huge success.

Councillor Allen said: “I want to say a huge thank-you, on behalf of the people of the borough and those visiting, to the organising committee and all the volunteers.

“Without the support of the Rotary Clubs of Weymouth, their many sponsors and all the volunteers, this event just would not happen and we owe them a large debt of gratitude.”

CARNIVAL RESULTS

Best Public House Entry and the Best Individual Entry: The Lugger Inn

Best Charitable Entry: Westham Community Trust

Best Business Entry: George Afedakis

Best Walking Entry: Weymouth College Carnival Arts Course

Most Topical Entry: Weymouth Bay Holiday Park

Best Crowd Appeal: The Wyke Smugglers

Best Youth Entry: Noah’s Ark Pre-school.