A MAN in Walthamstow has won more than 950,000 euros in a Spanish lottery 35 years after he died but it turned out to be a scam.

The family of James Shank were baffled after the winning' letter came through the post, and amused that their father had made the eerie lottery sweep from his grave.

It did not take them long, however, to spot the scam, because the crooks behind Euro Milliones Lottery promotions sent the same chain letter to numerous houses in Waltham Forest, including the homes of James Shank's sons in Walthamstow.

The letter claims that the winner' was selected out of 126 international finalists, then proceeds to say that the award was waiting at a security company.

It then asks for bank details to be sent to a certain account.

Retired Roy Shanks and his wife Maureen said: "I got this letter, saying what I had won and asking for my bank account details.

"I just tore it up, but that evening my brother showed me the same letter addressed to my father who passed away in 1971 but used to live where my brother lives now.

"We didn't even consider that it might be for real. We are a bit more streetwise and I think my dad would have torn it up too but there may be people who are taken in by it."