A retired firefighter from Bournemouth is celebrating his third cash win from the Daily Echo’s Find the Ball competition.

Barry Hill, of Poole Road, won £2,550 for the nearest miss last week, bringing his total winnings up to £53,100.

The 74-year-old, who has been entering the competition for more than 15 years, won the jackpot prize of £48,000 in 2000 and another £2,500 for the nearest miss in November last year.

“It is a surprise,” he said.

“It’s probably unheard of winning three times. We have been very lucky.”

The father-of-two and grandfather-of-three plans to use the money to take his wife Rosemary on holiday.

He said: “We like to go to Jersey but we haven’t been for a little while. That’s what we’ll probably use it for.”

Mr Hill, who served as a firefighter in Bournemouth and Poole for 22 years, said the couple moved house after winning the jackpot prize in 2000.

Hoping his good fortune continues, the pensioner added: “I play every week and I enjoy it. I’ll definitely carry it on.”

The competition appears in the Bournemouth Daily Echo and three other Newsquest titles each week.

Last year, more than £182,800 was paid out in prize money. Don’t miss the paper on Saturdays for your chance to enter the competition.