WHEN Devizes art student Francis Carlow finished his last TicTac mint he found a note in the box saying he was the lucky winner of a new £18,000 VW Beetle.

Francis, 24, of Long Street, who took delivery of the car on Monday, said: "It was a real Willy Wonka moment."

But the Cyber Green Beetle with its VW Golf GTI engine won't be taking to the road just yet.

Francis, currently drives a Citroen 2CV and insurance is not a problem.

The new car however, will cost considerably more to insure and he now has to find an affordable solution.

He said: "I had just finished off a specialist decorating job for a friend and was getting ready to go to a birthday party.

"I thought I'd have my last TicTac and saw the voucher at the bottom of the box.

"It's a smashing car and I'm absolutely delighted about it."

The former Devizes School pupil won the prestigious Oexmann art award, sponsored by Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, while he was still at school.

He went on to take an art foundation course at Trowbridge College, and is currently in the final year of a post-graduate diploma course at the Royal College of Art.

He said: "This is a frantically busy year and this win coming in the middle of it is a bit mindboggling."

When he completes his diploma course he hopes to travel and would particularly like to visit Los Angeles.