THERE are not many things that would drive you to get out of bed early following a long nightshift.
However, learning you've won a brand new Mercedes A220 cdi AMG sport is worth making an exception for – as lucky New Waltham man Peter Neal found out.
After years of entering competitions with botb.com – which can be found next to gleaming sports cars in major airports the world over – the Peterson Drive resident's dreams came true when he received a surprise knock at the door.
Bleary-eyed, he was led out into the street in his dressing gown to check out his £27,000 prize – where he had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't still asleep.
botb.com – which stands for Best Of The Best – runs regular competitions to win a huge range of cars, from Minis to Aston Martins, through their spot the ball competitions.
As well as entering in airports, tickets – which vary in price depending on the value of the car up for grabs – can also be bought online, with two winners every month.
Peter, who works as a maintenance engineer for Golden Wonder, said: "I have entered competitions with botb.com at airports and online for a number of years.
"You do dream of winning and this goes to show, you never know! You have to be in it to win it and you have got to have a dream.
"If you don't have a dream, you have nothing."
His shocked wife Elizabeth said the couple had known they were in with a chance of winning something after being contacted to say Peter was among three potential prize winners and being asked if he could clarify his entry.
She said: "We were just expecting another phone call. We never thought they would turn up with a car.
"He's mad about cars. He always watches the Grand Prix, so this is wonderful."
William Hindmarch, botb.com CEO, said: "We run competitions every two weeks to win super cars ranging from Mercedes to Minis and Aston Martins and Ferraris.
"Wherever possible, we try to go to surprise the winner with a sample of the car they have won.
"People can buy tickets at the airport and online and we have now been going for about ten years.
"We used to just quietly let the winners know they had won, but now we try and do this, as it lets other people know it is worth having a go and people really can win.
"We have had more than 200 super car winners now."
