A STUNNED shipyard worker from Walney saw his £5 bet at Aintree win him just short of £50k.

Gobsmacked Paul Wrathall won a cool £49,734.50 on the Tote Placepot at the Liverpool racecourse during its Grand National Festival weekend.  

The 29-year-old, of Walney, was at Friday's Ladies' Day with his wife Amy and more than 30 friends on a coach trip organised through Hawcoat Park RU.

Mr Wrathall backed six horses that were placed in all six races of the day to bag the big prize on his first visit to the racecourse.

The quality control inspector said: "It hasn't sunk in yet. 

"I was just gobsmacked, you don't expect to win that. 

"I would have been happy with a couple of hundred. My friend won £200 on one at Cartmel.

"No-one could believe it, it just doesn't happen to people like us. 

Everyone has been so happy for us and said it's nice to see someone beat the bookies."

Mr Wrathall, who plays football for Crooklands Casuals, said he was concentrating more on his single bets and saw that his Placepot was still going. 

When his horse Fairy Rath - selected because Rath is part of Mr Wrathall's surname - came home in second in the fifth race, his friend Sam Cunningham went to find out what the return would be if his pal had a horse placed in race six.

"My mate said 'if I've got this right you stand to win a lot of money Sharky'."

Mr Wrathall bought champagne for the coach party to share his success.

He said: "We go to Cartmel Races and we've been to Chester, this was just a treat as it was ladies' day and I was going with my wife and my friends and their partners. 

"It was a very jolly journey home." 

Aptly Mr and Mrs Wrathall got married at Cartmel Racecourse in May 2012.

Mrs Wrathall, 32, who also won £130 with her backings on the day, said: "The atmosphere was brilliant, even without the win it would have been a great day." 

The couple have not decided what to spend their winnings on just yet.