A FORMER bobby who swapped policing for a life behind bars as a pub landlord has scooped £47,000 in a Spot the Ball competition.

Until Eric Richards received a call from Littlewoods, last Wednesday afternoon, telling him his luck was in after years of trying, the most he had ever won was £5.

Now the 72-year-old, of Warndon Green, Warndon, said the winnings would help him celebrate his golden wedding anniversary with wife Joyce, later this year.

"Joyce isn't too well these days and this will let us celebrate our anniversary, and Joyce's birthday, in the true style I intended," said Eric, the former landlord of The Maple Leaf, in Lower Wick, and the Longstop, in Broad Street, Worcester.

"I've done the pools for more years than I care to remember so, in a way, it's like a policy maturing.

"I certainly won't change in any way, but it's nice to have a bit of financial security."

The former station sergeant, who is a grandfather of four, also plans to spoil his family with the Spot the Ball cash.

"It's fair to say my grandchildren and kids will be having some nice birthday and Christmas presents this year," he said.

And Littlewoods was delighted to be the bearer of happy news.

"It's always lovely to hand out the money to a deserving winner such as Mr Richards, who has been playing the game for so long," said a company spokesman. "It's also great to be able to surprise them with the call."