THE family of a lifelong punter gave him the perfect send-off when they placed a bet after his funeral - and won more than £2,000.

Jack Ross, 80, loved a bet, so at his funeral last week in Leadgate, near Consett, the family held a whip round to have one last punt in his honour.

His niece and grandson, who are both betting novices, chose Paxton Jack in the 1.40 at Towcester - and it romped home at 40-1.

Katharine Mutch, 43, of Consett put the bet on with her cousin, John Durant.

She said: "Jack was a big fan of the horses, but he never had a lot of luck.

"He will be laughing about this."

Mr Ross, a former joiner, was a widower who lived with his sister. He died after suffering a stroke on November 19.

His family came up with the idea of the bet at his funeral, in Mountsett Crematorium, Dipton, on Saturday.

Mrs Mutch said: "We knew he wouldn't have wanted us to spend a lot of money on flowers or whatever, so we decided to have a whip round and put a bet on for him."

They passed around a jug with Jack's Last Bet written on it, and collected £52.

They placed the bet at the Reuben Page bookmaker's in Front Street, Leadgate, where some of the counter staff chipped in.

Mrs Mutch, who works for Durham County Council, said: "Neither me or John had a clue what to do when we got in there.

"We looked up at the wall and there was a horse with Jack in its name, so we picked it."

They did not watch the race, but left to attend a wake in the Jolly Drovers pub, in Leadgate.

It was only when Mrs Mutch rang her 15-year-old son at home that she discovered Paxton Jack had won.

Carole Johnson, of Reuben Page, said: "This was one of those times when we were happy to pay out for a punter.

"You don't mind when it is for something like this."

Mrs Mutch said the cash will be used to buy a piece of equipment for Ward Six at the University Hospital of North Durham, where Mr Ross was treated in the hours before he died.