Revealed...Cirencester's luckiest man (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Revealed...Cirencester's luckiest man

A DAIRY farmer from Ampney St Mary was the man everyone wanted to be on Friday.

Tom Bennett was the lucky man dressed as Santa Claus.

He not only stood just a few feet away from Elizabeth Hurley on stage but was also the only man to get a kiss from her on the night.

As a member of Cirencester Round Table Mr Bennett was asked to step in at the last minute after the person scheduled to be Santa fell ill.

He said: "The Round Table chairman Rupert Carter was supposed to be Santa but he rang me on Thursday to say he had the flu and could I do it?

"I knew Elizabeth Hurley was coming to turn the lights on but didn't know much more than that.

"I just couldn't believe what happened, it was such a shock.

"One minute I was milking the cows and the next minute I was getting a kiss from Liz Hurley!

"I was a bit dazed and confused all evening.

"It was after all the press started shouting 'give Father Christmas a kiss' so I think I'd like to thank them!"

He added: "Afterwards I thought I'd better go straight home and tell my wife what had happened before someone else told her!

"I don't know how I would have felt if Russell Crowe had switched the lights on and my wife had been on stage!"