A farm worker won £70,000 worth of hope for the future just weeks after he was told he was facing redundancy.

Neill Cowie, of Beatty Gardens, Braintree, feared he was facing a bleak Christmas after he was told he could be out of a job in the New Year.

Mr Cowie works at Milles Farm, Stisted, which is up for sale. But now the delighted father-of-two has been given a major pre-Christmas boost after he scooped the first prize in a charity raffle - a £70,000 JCB tractor.

He said: "I'm over the moon. It looked like it was going to be a desperate Christmas but now the future is back in perspective."

Mr Cowie, 35, entered the charity contest run by JCB Landpower in Farmer's Weekly magazine to raise cash for the NSPCC.

Even though he was facing redundancy he made a £15 donation to the NSPCC as he entered the draw.

He said: "I knew about the Fastrac first prize but I didn't think for one moment that I would win it. I just wanted to give to a good cause."

He added: "Second prize were some little children's model tractors and I thought it was one of them.

"I'd forgotten I'd entered before I got the phone call to tell me I'd won."

He added: "I've never won anything before, I couldn't believe it, I thought they were having me on. I'm only just beginning to come to terms with the whole thing."

Mr Cowie, who will use the prize to set up his own business as a tractor contractor, said his wife Stephanie. His two sons Michael, 13, and Sam, 4, are delighted at his success.

Guy Robinson, managing director of JCB Landpower, said: "We are delighted not only to have raised £33,723 for the NSPCC but also that the Fastrac has gone to Mr Cowie, who will clearly make good use of it."

Neill Cowie was due to collect his tractor from Raynor JCB, Springwood Drive, Braintree, later today.

Over the moon - Neill Cowie will use his prize to start up his own new business

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