A pensioner stands to win a small fortune today with £120,000 riding on the outcome of a horse race.

The lucky punter from Ferryhill thought all his Christmases had come at once when he backed six winning horses and won £26,000.

He was one of only two people in the whole of the country to beat amazing odds and win the Scoop Six prize.

Today, the man - whose identity is being kept secret - will have the chance to win a further £120,000 when he is asked to pick the winner of a selected race.

If the race is cancelled, the money will roll over to another race a few days later - and the winnings could be even higher.

Maurice Clark, from Ladbrokes' Ferryhill shop, said: "He had not realised he'd won the competition, as in one race he picked a non-runner and so his bet was automatically placed on the horse with the lowest price. It so happened that that horse won.

"Sometimes no one wins in the country.

"On Saturday he has to pick the winner of a particular race. The fund starts at £120,000 and there will be the money from the stakes added to that.