IT’LL be warmer next winter for one Bournemouth man after he won the Daily Echo’s Find the Ball competition.

Peter Neesam, of Weldon Avenue, said he was “over the moon” to win just under £3,000 last week after making the ‘nearest miss’ guess.

And he decided immediately after learning of his win that he would spend the money on a new boiler for his home.

The 87-year-old said: “I can’t believe it.

“It’s absolutely wonderful. What a shock! I’m delighted, I’ve never won so much money in all of my life.”

Mr Neesam said he has been playing the competition, which runs in Newsquest-owned papers around the south, for “years and years”.

He began taking part with his late wife. When she passed away, I just thought I’d keep on playing the competition for her,” Mr Neesam said.

“I feel thrilled to have won this amount of money. I’ll be spending it on a new boiler for my house, which is something I really need.”

This week’s Find the Ball jackpot is £46,000, or £3,000 for the nearest miss.

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 Find the Ball competition.