With three lions on his house, Gordon Walton's beaming and hoping that 40 years of hurt will come to an end at the World Cup.

The die-hard football fan from Blackbird Leys, Oxford, has invested in three lion statues to sit on the roof of his Oxford home during the tournament. Mr Walton believes his devotion to the England team rivals that of the Matthews family, who were featured last week in the Oxford Mail.

They covered their Abingdon house in flags and bunting, have a pet Alsatian called Rooney, and their children are even sporting England flags shaved into the backs of their heads.

But Mr Walton believes he has gone one better after shelling out more than £80 on the trio of 16in concrete lions for his home in Sandy Lane, Blackbird Leys, surrounded by flags and bunting.

He said: "It's cost me quite a lot to do and I think it's even better than what has been in the paper so far!"

Mr Walton spotted an advert for a pair of the lions in the Oxford Mail, but he was so keen to have three that he persuaded the seller to mould him another one.

He said: "I asked for a British Bulldog but I couldn't get one. The lions will have to do until I get one."

Mr Walton, who is retired after a career in the Army and at the Cowley car factory, decided to deck out his house because he is convinced that his team are going to be coming home with the cup this year.

He said: "I support England very strongly. I was 69 on Monday and it might be my last World Cup, so why not go for it? I have been supporting them since I was a boy, so a few years now, and this is our year to win it."

He added: "There's only one team that's going to win and that's England."

Mr Walton plans to watch all the England games at home with his three daughters, Joanne, Sarah and Amanda, after deciding he could not make it to the live matches.

He said: "I have been to Germany two or three times when I was in the Army, but I'm too old now."

If you know where Mr Walton can get a British Bulldog statue, call the Oxford Mail newsdesk on 01865 4425444.