Mark Beresford, 61, and his wife Sharon, 57, launched the competition last year and told contestants they would give away their riverside property in Hampshire if they sold 250,000 tickets at £25 each.

But instead they sold just 30,000 – raising £750,000 – not enough to trigger the prize draw for the six bed house in Ringwood on the edge of the New Forest.

In their terms and conditions, the Beresfords stated that in these circumstances the first prize would be cash to the value of 75 per cent of the final ticket sales – but only after their promotion costs were taken out. 

The couple maintain they racked up around £450,000 in advertising, marketing, PR and legal bills and were also entitled to keep up to 25 per cent of the ticket sales – about £187,000 

The remaining £110,000 from the £750,000 pot was won by Carina Alcock from nearby Christchurch, whose ticket was drawn two days ago.

In the face of criticism, Mr Beresford, a 61-year-old company director who made his money turning around failing businesses, defended the veracity of the draw and the costs they racked up.

He said today: ‘If we charged our time on an hourly rate we would be a little bit above minimum wage’ and threatened to call the police if the reporter did not leave. 

Graham Nash, from Poole, Dorset, wrote online today: ‘Would be interested to see the breakdown of the costs’ and Michelle Philpott, from Poole, posted on social media: ‘I think all who entered should be given their money back. £600,000 on promotional costs?’

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