A MYSTERY punter from Blackburn won almost £30,000 after putting on what is believed to be the largest ever bet on an FA Cup final.

The man, who is in his 50s, took home an extra £28,570 after staking £100,000 with odds of 2/7 on Liverpool lifting the cup over West Ham on Saturday.

The gambler, who previously lost £6,000 betting on a horse race, walked into the Darwen branch of William Hill with a banker's draft for the massive sum on the morning of the big game.

But staff at the Bolton Road bookies said he didn't hang around to watch the game on one of their televisions.

Instead he told them he was going to watch the match at home where he would have had to sit through almost three hours of nail-biting action for what was one of the most thrilling cup finals of recent times.

Today tight-lipped staff would only describe the man as a regular at the bookies and said they were waiting for him to come in and collect his winnings which he will be able to enjoy tax-free.

By 27 minutes West Ham were 2-0 up and, despite Liverpool pulling one back before half-time, the Hammers looked favourites to be taking the cup back to Upton Park.

West Ham then led 3-2 with just 90 seconds left but Liverpool equalised and, after a goalless half an hour of extra time, the Reds won on penalties.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said that the branch manager had to phone head office to get permission to accept such a large bet and go through the company's security procedures.

And he added the company wouldn't be laying on any special "treats" to keep the gambler's loyalty as he reckoned that after winning £28,000 he should be treating everyone else.

He said: "We believe this to be the largest single bet ever to be placed on the FA Cup.

"The manager was really surprised especially considering the man's previous bets which were nowhere near this amount.

"But our punters never cease to amaze us with their bets.

"We do not know whether this man has a large disposable income and £100,000 is a drop in the ocean to him or whether this bet was a culmination of his life savings or what ever motivated him to place such a high stake bet.

"At the end of the day, that is a matter for his conscience, his bank manager and his wallet."

He said the customer had previously bet £500 on another sporting event and walked home with £1,000 but later lost £6,000.

He said: "We had great hopes of beating this record-breaking customer when West Ham led on two occasions hopefully they will give us the chance to get the money back by betting on the World Cup.

"We are keen to lure this man back to the bookies so we have a chance to get back some of our money.

"Overall, though, we enjoyed the better of the exchanges with punters who traditionally dislike betting on games to end in a draw at 90 minutes."

Although most people in the bookmakers had not today heard about the man's good fortune, one fellow punter said he couldn't believe the man's luck particularly considering the game's scoreline just before Steven Gerrard's equaliser before full-time.

He said: "He is a lucky so and so.

"Never mind winning £28,000 I just wish I had £100,000 to put down as a bet in the first place."

Another said: "I don't often visit this bookies. But I might start using it more now know I know it is lucky.

"I am really surprised. Not so much about what he won but how much he put down.

"You don't often hear of people doing things like that in Darwen.

"He must be a big Liverpool fan putting all that faith in them!"