Argus winner Martin Lunn was today celebrating the biggest stroke of luck in his life.

He was cracking open the champagne after scooping our Win a Dream £20,000 Lifestyle competition, opening the door to an all-expenses paid luxury flat at Brighton Marina.

As he realised he had won, Martin looked totally stunned.

But he soon recovered to say: "I can't believe it. I really didn't expect to win. It's absolutely incredible. I'm going to be doing a lot of celebrating for a while.

"It is tremendous and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with this. It is going to be a terrific year.

"I saw the entry form in The Argus and it sounded such a wonderful prize I thought I had to give it a go."

Over the next year Martin, 40, will lead the pampered life in the luxury flat equipped with shopping vouchers worth £2,000, free plush gym membership, free golf lessons, free restaurant meals and a free cinema pass.

There is also a free four-day yachting cruise to organise - not to mention a moving-in party at the marina's Ebony Rooms bar.

Martin's success was even more dramatic as he only knew he was going to be in the final just moments before it began.

His name was drawn out of a hat to join nine other finalists who had come from all over Sussex to find out whether they would be the ones to turn the key to a life of luxury.

Martin, a clinical psychologist who has worked at Mill View Hospital in Hove since 1998, said: "I think I am going to be getting a lot of phone calls after all this. My friends and colleagues are going to be amazed. I was aware of the competition and had thought about going in for it but it was only when I saw an article on Friday and knew this was the last chance I decided to give it a go.

"I'm completely delighted but still stunned."

It has certainly been a week of surprises for Martin, who is single and has no children.

He was flying back from a holiday in New York when he was stopped as he got ready to walk on the plane.

He said: "The crew said they had been waiting for me and had upgraded me to first class. A friend of mine is a pilot and had got in contact with the airline and asked them to do it for me.

"That was great enough but this has beaten all that. This is the icing on the cake."

More than 5,500 people entered The Argus luxury lifestyle competition - the biggest ever giveaway in the paper's history.

Hundreds of people gathered at the marina's Village Square on Saturday afternoon to find out who had won.

The tension mounted as the first nine finalists gathered with friends, families and supporters before the start of the draw.

Finalist Maria Hacker, 29, of St Catherine's Terrace, Hove, a studio production executive for holiday company First Choice, was joined by boyfriend Andy Bell, 27, and her sister Emma for support.

She said: "I've got everything crossed. I've had a million phone calls from people all rooting for me. It'll be wonderful if I win. The best thing will be the restaurants."

Sue Paskins, 55, a Green Party councillor for Brighton and Hove City Council, was supported by her husband Mick, 57, and other friends.

She said: "I'm nervous but excited. I'm looking forward to using the gym if I win."

Marian Ilett, 75, of Overhill, Southwick, had brought along husband Ronald, 75, daughter Jayne Ebrickt, 32 and grand-daughter Chantelle, nine.

She said: "I'm really nervous. I haven't done anything like this before. It's very exciting."

The pressure mounted as one by one the finalists were called up by Argus news sales and promotions manager Stephen Lowe.

Then up stepped "wild card" Martin and the competition began.

First the group had to write down how many boats they thought could be berthed at the marina.

The finalist closest to the answer, 1,374, was given first crack at winning the prize, followed by the rest in descending order.

Wellwishers created a pathway from The Argus stand to a locked door about 20m away.

Ten keys were placed in a box but only one fitted the lock.

First up was Ms Hacker, who was cheered as she made her way to the door but had to concede defeat as the door refused to budge.

She was followed by Paul Routledge, 26, of Northease Drive, Hove, Graeme Goodfellow, 44, of St Hilda's Close, Horley, Simon Kedgley, 26, of Canning Street, Brighton and Mrs Paskins.

All were unsuccessful and the tension was almost unbearable as Darren Jeffrey, 30, of Ferry Road, Shoreham, Ms Hacker and Deema Barakat, in her 20s, from Brighton, also tried and failed.

It was now down to the final two. As Martin walked towards the door he knew if he picked the wrong key the winner would be Mrs Ilett.

He put the key in the lock and the door opened to loud cheers and applause from the watching crowds.

Martin, originally from a small Scottish village called Bridge of Allan, grinned as members of The Argus Press Gang handed him a bottle of champagne and a folder spelling out in detail exactly what he had won.

Sarah Harvey, promotions manager at The Argus, said: "We have had a great response to our competition.

"It seemed to really capture the imagination of our readers and we received thousands of entries.

"I would like to thank all of the companies involved and I hope our lucky winner enjoys their year at Brighton Marina."