THE army major accused of cheating on ITV1's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? has told a court in London that he wanted to win the £1m jackpot to buy his three daughters a pony.

The trial of 39-year-old Charles Ingram of Easterton, Devizes, who is charged with conspiracy, began at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday.

His nursery nurse wife, Diana, and college lecturer Tecwen Whittock appeared alongside him in the dock.

Mrs Ingram had won £32,000 on a previous episode of the show.

The programme in which Ingram appeared was never televised after allegations emerged that his answers had been guided by coughs from the audience.

The jury at the trial were played a tape showing Ingram winning the 'fastest finger' round of the popular ITV show.

In the hot seat he told host, Chris Tarrant: "I will be happy to walk away with anything. If I can go away to work and hold my head up high, I will be happy."

He said that his children had all asked for a pony to share if he won on the show.

The trial is due to last four weeks.