COMPETITION crazy Geoff Dagger can't use all his World Cup prizes - because he is too lucky!

He cheered when his shot was on target and he won a pair of tickets from Nationwide to the watch the winners of the World Cup Group A, which includes Brazil, playing the second team in Group B.

But then he cried foul when he won a second pair of tickets from Budweiser for another World Cup match due to be played at around the same time!

The competition-crazy housing officer with Burnley Council has just picked up the keys to a brand new VW Polo after writing a catchy slogan for new Jestive biscuits.

And on average in a year he scoops around 30 prizes by entering competitions on food labels and in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

He conjures up his quirky quips while his wife Dale, a doctor's receptionist in Blackburn, and nine-year-old daughter Michelle are tuned into soap operas.

He said: "I get out my folder and start thinking up slogans. On average I do about 50 a month and all my big wins have been from writing slogans." When Polo Mints had a promotion to win a can of Polo Mint 'holes' Geoff entered several times and won 12 cans!

This year the keen Rovers fan, who lives in Blackburn, won tickets to see his team play Chelsea, further tickets for Rovers V Spurs and two World Cup T-shirts care of Coca Cola.

And the icing on the cake was a pair of VIP tickets to the Arsenal v Newcastle FA Cup Final at Wembley.

He said: "There isn't really a secret, and I don't suppose I would tell you if there was! The main thing is just to keep having a go.

"When you write a slogan you have to make sure it is not too complicated but also different enough to stand out from the crowd.

"When I started entering competitions I told a friend of mine I would win a car in 10 years, I had to serve my apprenticeship and it took me 15 years but I have won that car!"

Geoff's win list includes: a Florida holiday, two trips to the Lakes, London theatre weekend, two mountain bikes, TV, video, personal stereo, compact disc player, drill, computer, helicopter trip... and not forgetting a year's supply of sausage and bacon.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.