Eugene Weber was so convinced he had won a prize draw he even started spending his winnings. But he didn't read the small print carefully enough.

Mr Weber was over the moon when he received a letter saying nothing would prevent him from picking up £10,000 in the free prize draw delivered to his home.

An invitation to a celebratory lunch and an assurance he would receive the cheque within 48 hours made it sound like his dream ticket.

But when Mr Weber, 51, of Fishersgate Close, Portslade, called the helpline for Hampshire-based company TV Direct Distribution four days later, he was told there was no prize even though he had already spent some of the cash.

Mr Weber said: "If there was any small print I certainly couldn't see it. They even asked what I was going to do with the money, and listed how other people had spent their winnings.

"The letter says that nothing will prevent the cheque from reaching my home. I showed it to other people and everyone was convinced it was genuine.

"I bought a few things which left me short of money at the weekend and so I had to borrow some money off my nephew. It was only about £30 but that's a lot of money for me as I'm on incapacity benefit."

Mr Weber said he was worried the same thing might happen to others.

"The woman on the helpline admitted hundreds of people had been sent the same letter and said that the draw hadn't even been made yet.

"I was very angry and upset when I found out.

"I have never won anything before and we were hoping to go on our first holiday for 20 years so it was very cruel.

"I just want everyone to know about this so it doesn't happen to anyone else."

Mr Weber's wife Catherine, 43, said: "We were so excited when we heard we had won because we could have really done with the money.

"My daughter has just celebrated her eighteenth birthday and she was in tears about the whole thing."

A spokeswoman for TV Direct said: "It is true that a lot of people expect to have won money but if they read the rules and regulations, they will find out that it is shared out.

"The draw is to encourage people to order a catalogue. We would advise people to read the draw carefully."

A spokesman for Hampshire County Council said: "TV Direct is a distribution and mail order company and these draws are organised from Belgium or France.

"We have been looking into the matter and that is all we can say at present."