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Heads you win...

3/ 1/2002

Alex Scott, 26, from Withington and Andy Duggan, 29, from Hulme, placed a £2 wager at 1,000-1 that a woman would be the head of the Church of England in 2002.

They handed their cash over at William Hill in Burton Road, West Didsbury, knowing the queen is already the head of the Church of England.

But William Hill have refused to pay out on the bet, stating the odds related to a woman being the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Andy said: ''We placed the bet on New Year's Eve and it was stamped, so as soon as New Year's Day came we thought we were quids in.

''However, when we turned up to collect our winnings we were told they would not pay up.''

A spokesman for William Hill said the firm will not pay out.

He said: ''This was not a bet we offered and there is no question of us paying out.

"It was accepted in error and we have the right to refuse to pay.''