A LOTTERY millionaire whose ex-girlfriend tried to claim half his fortune has settled the case out of court by paying her £25,000.

Today Ted Davies, chief scout for Premiership football team Charlton Athletic, said the whole incident had left him very saddened.

Mr Davies, 53, who at the time of his lottery win in November 1997 lived in a terraced house in Ducie Street, Ramsbottom, now owns a mansion off Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall.

But 21 months after he collected the £1.9million jackpot he received a letter from Mrs Brenda Harrop's solicitors claiming there had been a "verbal agreement" and she was entitled to half his winnings.

He said: "I am just sad. But I have so much in my life. I have put it behind me because I have so much to look forward to.

"I met her in 1993 and we had a relationship of sorts -- it was on and off. I had other girlfriends and, although she wanted marriage, I am devoted to my job.

"In January 1996 she moved into my house in Ramsbottom while she waited for a housing association to sort her out with accommodation and she rented a back room and I organised a rent book.

"She had still not moved out by November 1996 and I started saying to her 'come on' because the relationship was fizzling out. She eventually moved out on February and I had my win in November." He said he was surprised when the solicitor's letter arrived because he had bought the lottery tickets and there had never been any agreement. At Oldham County Court yesterday, Mr Davies said he could not bring himself to look at Mrs Harrop and negotiations were carried out between the two legal parties in separate rooms.

He said: "She started off demanding half and after 30 minutes that went to £250,000 then £100,000, then £50,000, then £30,000 and eventually I was advised by my legal people to settle on £25,000.

"It will probably cost me double that when I have paid my legal bill because I had to employ a barrister.

"But it's only money. It's like this place -- its only bricks and mortar. People mean more to me than that. My job means more to me than that."

Ironically, he said that if Mrs Harrop, had asked him for money, he would probably have agreed to help her out.