Fan has early World Cup victory

A competition entry filled out to pass the time turned into a pass to a World Cup trip of a lifetime for one Midland football fan.

Darren Ellis, aged 39, is celebrating after winning two tickets to South Africa to watch one of the World Cup quarter finals. The father-of-one will travel out on June 30 aboard an A380 Airbus and stay in the four-star Amazingwe Hotel, in Johannesburg.

As well as a ticket to the game on July 2, there will also be visits to a rhino and lion nature reserve and a visit to one of the oldest caves in the world.

The competition was run by Continental Tyres.

Mr Ellis, an office worker, said winning the prize had been a massive shock as he did not believe he stood a chance.

He said he had only filled in the entry to pass the time while waiting for new tyres to be fitted on his car at National Tyres, in Worcester Road, Kidderminster.

"I was sitting in the waiting room and had read all of the signs on the walls when my eyes fell on the competition entries.

"The tyres to the car were Continental so I decided to give it a go. I never thought I stood a chance of winning.

"As a matter of fact my eyes were more on the runner-up prizes as one of them was a television."

Mr Ellis, of Hoo Road, Aggborough, Kidderminster, who supports Wolves and Kidderminster Harriers, said he would be taking is brother, John, with him to the game. He said the five-day trip would be poignant as their other brother, Patrick, died last year.

Darren said: "After losing Patrick my brother and I wanted to spend more time together and this has given us the perfect chance to do it."And his wife Louisa is resigned to missing out on the trip as she is seven months pregnant.