The organisers of a competition to win a £600,000 north Oxford home were today forced to admit their dream had failed.

At least 60,000 entrants were required to make the competition to win Belmor House, Woodstock Road, a success.

But organisers, led by housewife Grace Trehan, announced today that the contest had attracted fewer than 1,170 people.

The collapse has left hundreds of entrants wondering what will happen to their £10 stakes. Chris Allen, of Cowley, Oxford, who sent off £10 in May, said: "Suddenly everything seemed to go a bit incognito.

"I think they have covered themselves legally, but where is the money going to go to? I am quite concerned that it goes to a charity and not into somebody's pockets."

The 'Win-a-House' competition was launched in a blaze of publicity last summer. Hopeful entrants were asked to pay £105 to stand a chance of winning the Edwardian home. They also had to explain in 50 to 75 words why they wanted to win the house.

But earlier this year, after the initial deadline for the competition had passed, the stake was slashed to £10. It meant organisers now needed 60,000 entrants, rather than 6,500. Entrants were also told they would not receive their money back if the competition did not go ahead. Mrs Trehan said at the time: "I am confident that enough people will be keen to invest just £10 in return for a chance of winning a £600,000 house and the charities can't lose."

A new deadline was set for June 30 and an announcement promised in The Times today.

The announcement never came. Instead the Oxford Mail received a two paragraph press release. It reads: "Less than 1,170 entries for the Win-a-House competition were received against a minimum requirement of 60,000 entries needed to cover the cost of the valuation cost of the property.

"Under Rule 1(h) of the contest rules, the contest has become void. No money has been kept by the promoters."

Mrs Trehan was unavailable for comment today. The telephone number for her home appears to have been changed. Mary Ann-Read, who had been handling publicity for the competition, told the Oxford Mail she had stopped working for Mrs Trehan in March. Oxford property consultant Harry St John, who had earlier raised doubts about the likely success of the raffle, said: "I hate to say I told you so. I think the idea of getting 60,000 people to buy a ticket was beyond comprehension.

"For all the time the good lady has wasted, she could have sold her house six times over."

Competition entrant Mrs Allen was willing to let her £10 go. She said: "I knew it was a big chance I was taking. It was a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained."

It is not known which charities will now benefit or by how much, or what will happen to Belmor House next.

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