PAVOROTTI didn't hit the big time on the National Lottery's scale of most popular wheezes. Instead that honour went to the US naval ship, JFK. A massive 165,000 letters were sent to the National Lottery offices, requesting tickets.

The Lottery's bad experience where water is concerned continued. Bad weather hit several planned visits for the public who had to be content to circle the big boat - which was holed in two places - in little boats.

Quizzed about whether this wheeze was a fiasco, Lottery chief executive Ray Bates remained defiant: "We have bundles of letters from the public thanking us and saying what a great time they had," he said.