Britain's new Scrabble champion was crowned last night after a nerve-racking war of words.

Using words such as "waxworm" and "cubages", 35-year-old Mark Nyman, a former world Scrabble champion, won the British national award in a tense best-of-three final.

Mr Nyman, of Calverley, triumphed over 120 players in London.

He scored 480 points in both games of the final to lift the British crown for the second time.

"I'm absolutely delighted. The letters were very kind to me in the final," he said.

"I won the World Championship in 1993 so I'm hoping years ending in three are lucky for me."