A Sussex gambler has been banned from betting at a chain of bookmakers - because he won.

The ban follows a month in which Mark Fancy, 36, beat Coral with a series of football, horseracing, greyhound and golfing wagers.

In May, the Brighton businessman, who lives in Shepham Avenue, Saltdean, won £14,000 from bets totalling £700.

Mr Fancy said: "Bookmakers don't like punters who beat them at their own game."

Coral director of communications Simon Clare said: "Yes, Mark has beaten us. We are closing his account because he has been too successful. He should take it as a mark of respect.

"We say good luck to him. Punters have the right to take their business elsewhere and we have a right to say 'take your business elsewhere'.

"We close a handful of accounts like Mark's each year when it is clear they are winning too much.

"It is very unusual for someone to win on such a variety of sports. Mark must have good all-round knowledge or just be very lucky."

Mr Fancy was livid when Darren Clarke, the manager of the Coral betting shop in Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, told him he couldn't bet any more.

Mr Fancy, who bets on a variety of sporting events throughout the year, said: "I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

"I have been regularly betting with Coral for years and just because I have a successful May I am banned.

"I have been waiting 18 years for a month like this. I continued betting throughout June and lost but because there was an audit which found I was £14,000 up over a period, I was banned.

"When I complained to the head office I was told they were banning me because I was not a viable business proposition."

Mr Fancy, who runs Icebusters, a Brighton based ice delivery firm, beat Coral with four separate bets - one accumulator and three trebles.

Although two of them were placed last year, they all paid out in May.