BOLTON's Irfan Hanif went bust because of Mayfair when he represented the borough in the National Monopoly Championships.

Irfan, 17, of Chorley New Road, Lostock, blames buying the prized property card for his downfall during Saturday's fun event in Leeds.

Competing against 25 other Monopoly mad wheeler-dealers Irfan, a technician at Photo Express, on Newport Street, just failed to qualify for the national final.

A disappointed Irfan, who amassed £5,513 in cash and property, said: "If only I hadn't bought Mayfair and built all of those hotels I might have been in with a chance. But when property prices are just £200 and you can buy Mayfair for £400, it's difficult to resist."

The winner of Saturday's heat, Mike Grabsky, 33, of Hove, will go onto the UK final at the House of Commons next month.

Competitors will play for a place at the World Tournament in Monte Carlo.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.