A WORCESTER pensioner has sat by his letterbox for a month after being promised almost half-a-million pounds by a "bogus" Canadian company.

Neville Cook sent off a £20 "processing fee" to the Sweepstake Advisory Network when he heard he had won £421,780 in its company draw.

But wife Valerie says that, four weeks later, the housebound 68-year-old, of Saddler's Walk, Blackpole, has heard nothing of his fortune.

"He has been paralysed by a muscle wasting disease for 10 years and has spent his time entering competitions and lotteries," she said.

"Of course, when he received a letter saying he won nearly half-a-million pounds, he was ecstatic. Four weeks later, he remains optimistic and waits every day for the postman."

Mrs Cook said the letter from Sweepstake was full of confusing information and they were unsure why Neville had won the money.

"We presumed it was to do with the other competitions so he sent the processing fee to Canada by airmail to make sure it got there," she said.

Senior adviser at Worcestershire Trading Standards Alison Cornelius said it was unlikely Mr Cook would ever see his money.

"The Advertising Standards Authority recently issued a statement warning people that if these companies offer money, it is likely to be a scam," she said. "It's a fact no one in the UK has ever won a cash prize from these letters.

"We received complaints about the Sweepstake Advisory Network letters only today, but once you have parted with your money, that's it."

Mrs Cornelius advised people that if they really felt the cash promise was "the one", they should call Trading Standards before responding.

"Otherwise I'd bin the letter as they are only interested in your money," she added.

Worcestershire Trading Standards can be contacted on 01905 765373 or write to the Advertising Standards Authority at 2 Torrington Road, London, WC1E 7NW.