WHEN most people think of winning the Lottery they imagine buying fast cars or expensive holidays.

But after winning nearly £100,000 on a lucky dip, pensioner Malcolm Everton splashed out on a £20 fishing rod.

The 65-year-old, who lives in sheltered accommodation Cumberlege House in Old Marston, Oxford, won £99,826 on the National Lottery.

The windfall won’t change him though, and he says he’s still as “tight as ever”.

Mr Everton, who had previously won up to £120 in the five years he has been playing the Lottery, said: “It won’t make a lot of difference to me, I will still be fishing down the river in three months’ time.”

Mr Everton won on the Lucky Dip with the numbers 11, 21, 22, 41, 47, 48 and the bonus 36 after playing at the Costcutter Post Office in Old Marston Road last month.

He goes to the shop every Monday to buy five Lucky Dips, which gives the player random lottery numbers, at £5. He bought the winning ticket when he was doing some shopping for an elderly neighbour.

Mr Everton, whose wife Lynda died 18 years ago, initially thought he had won £2,816, but shop staff took him home to break the news he had actually won nearly £100,000.

The father-of-one, who has lived in Old Marston for 14 years, said: “It is nice to not worry any more and to know if someone is in trouble you can sort it.

“I am still as tight as ever – I bought the cheapest fishing rod and the smallest TV.

“It is not going to change my way of life, but it has given me security.

“Nothing will change me, I am not going to break any habits and I am not going to make any new ones.

“My son Damion will probably get the majority of it, it is what he deserves.”

Mr Everton has a list of 14 friends and neighbours he has helped or will help with the cash he has won, including an elderly neighbour who had been saving for a new fridge for about four months until his neighbour bought a new one for him.

His neighbourly behaviour hasn’t always won him friends though.

Mr Everton endured three years of arguments with Oxford City Council from 2003 when he was threatened with legal action over odd jobs he was doing for residents when he lived at Bradlands, also in Old Marston.

The council eventually allowed him to continue helping his neighbours.

Costcutter manager Rathan Pakerathan, who sold him the ticket, said: “It is really a privilege, and serving that winning ticket is a bonus.”

Mr Everton, who has survived four heart attacks and lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after an accident at home, travelled the world working as a specialised pipe layer. He also helped to dig the first four miles of the Channel Tunnel.

His son Damion, 28, said: “It couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke. I’m so happy for him.”

Previous county winners include computer analyst Peter Mallett, from Wheatley, who scooped £11.759m in March 2001.

Charmaine Watson, from Eynsham, was a single mother living on benefits when she won £2.3m in August 2005.

And Graham Tustain, from Banbury, won £4.425m in 2010.