Bookies were left with empty pockets after the mystic power that is Paul the Octopus helped punters squeeze 500,000.00 big ones out of the gambling giant William Hills hands alone.

Paul the octopus’s prediction skills were put to good use during the World Cup tournament and managed to predict a phenomenal 8 successive results up to and including the final.

Understandably with a record like that it was no wonder punters decided to back the underwater gambling guru and he didn’t disappoint and lead his loyal followers to big payouts.

It has been confirmed that individuals who backed each of Paul’s predictions with a £10 bet will have won £200 over the run of the World Cup and furthermore, those punters who were canny enough to re-invest their winnings every time will have bagged themselves £3,000! Not bad for taking the advice of an Octopus!

Octopus Pauls words of wisdom definitely had picked up some momentum towards the Final match as it had appeared that the Dutch team had been favoured over the Spanish until Paul make his final selection.

Paul has now cemented his place in the celebrity world with wealthy businessmen offering substantial amounts to buy him.

Graham Sharpe, spokesman for William Hill said "Picking all of Germany's victories, their two defeats, and Spain's World Cup final triumph was one of the finest tipping feats ever," he went on to say "We can but hope Paul has gone to a rest home for retired octopi by the time the next World Cup gets under way."

Punters are now pinning their hopes that Paul can exceed his life expectancy and make it to the next World Cup tournament in 2014. We will definitely be following his mystic predictions...with his record we’d be mad not to don’t you think!?