BURNLEY-born MP Shahid Malik has revealed how sneaking out of his bedroom window to play snooker when he should have been revising for his school exams helped him win a major Parliamentary prize.

The Dewsbury Labour backbencher won the Annie's Bar Parliamentary Pool Tournament last night.

In front of a packed audience in the House of Commons Terrace Pavilion, by the River Thames, he beat Scottish MP John McDougall two-nil before having a much harder battle against Cardiff MP Kevin Brennan.

Despite going two-nil down he recovered and beat the former champion by three games to two.

But he revealed the secret of his success came from when he was a teenager in Burnley.

Mr Malik, who was presented with his award by Sports Minister Richard Caborn, said: "I had always wanted to win a tournament on the green baize in front of TV cameras.

"Today at Parliament, in front of Yorkshire TV, I achieved that aim. I used to think I could be a professional snooker player but my parents persuaded me to do my GCSEs and A-levels.

"But instead of revising I used to sneak out of my bedroom, just outside Burnley town centre, and go to the Keighley Green Working Men's Club.

"Being a Muslim who doesn't drink alcohol, I would buy a pint of orange juice to ensure I was not thrown out then play snooker.

"I played for a variety of East Lancashire and Burnley snooker teams but didn't pick up the cue I kept in the boot of my car after coming to Westminster.

"All that time playing snooker when I should have been studying has paid off. If anyone says this is a case of a mis-spent youth, I am guilty as charged.''

Mr Malik said he had had a great year, being elected as MP for Dewsbury in May and then making his maiden speech in June talking about being bullied for being an Asian at Burnley Barden High School.

In December he got the House of Commons award for the best Maiden Speech by a new MP and now he has won the Annie's Bar Pool Tournament. Mr Malik said: "It can't get much better than this.''