A NORTH-East student has topped up his loan by scooping £163,191 after placing a £4 bet at his local bookies.

Norman Evans, 46, a mature student studying Bio Medical Science at Durham University, won the cash after finding six winners on selected televised races.

But his lucky streak might not stop there - he could scoop another £140,000 if he can pick a winner in this Saturday's bonus race, taking his winnings to £300,000.

Norman, married with two children, plans to pack in his course if his horse romps home at the weekend.

He said: "I'm not a big gambling man and never bet more than a fiver, so investing £4 was quite a big wager for me. I've been working part-time just to put food on the table."

Norman, of Norton, Teesside, won on the Tote's big Saturday bet, the Scoop6. It gives punters the chance to win a national kitty - in this case £163,191 - if they pick six winners from races selected all over the UK.

Norman is now plotting what he will do if he can pick another winner of the nominated bonus race.

He said: "I really don't want to be greedy, but you'd be daft not to try."

* His Scoop6 winners, which romped home during meetings at Newbury and Ayre, were: Warrsan at 5/1, Vol Solitaire at 3/1, Mystic Man at 11/1, Tante Rose at 6/1, Muqbil at 5/1 and Ryalux at 15/2.