[Red Moon]

He drove Reliant van like Del Boy

EUGENE grins from ear to ear as he poses for a snap aged 17 with his first love - a clapped-out 1970s Reliant Robin.

The housemate, who is lanky like plonker Rodney in classic comedy Only Fools and Horses, bought the orange three-wheeler to share with brother Greg.

Mum Janet, who opened up the family photo album for the Mirror, said: "The boys shared the car but it was mainly for Gene because he loved the Trotters Independent Traders van on the TV. It was the wrong colour, but the right age.

"Having this thing parked on the front drive caused quite a stir. But sadly it got vandalised after they'd had it a couple of years and that was the end of that."

She added: "Gene was terribly upset."

But the geeky radio-enthusiast - who is hot favourite to win tonight - will not be buying a cushdy new motor when he comes out of the Big Brother house.

Despite already pocketing £50,000 in the Diary Room dilemma, brother Greg said: "Eugene won't go out and buy a Ferrari, although that would be fun.

"He's very sensible with money and I think he'll put it towards a mortgage."

He also revealed hundreds of love letters and emails from female admirers have been sent to Eugene's home in Crawley, West Sussex. One besotted fan even scrawled "Eugene, I think you're wonderful - will you marry me?" in permanent marker pen on his four-wheel drive car.

Greg, 29 - who like Eugene is still a virgin - said: "I am finding it very difficult to keep on top of all the fan mail he is receiving.

"He has had more than 300 emails in the last two weeks from fans, and women wanting to go out with him.

"Some girls have even gone to the trouble of finding our address and writing personal love letters to him.

"Then we had to buy some fluid to clean his car after fans had used a permanent marker to show their love for him.

"I'm very happy that my brother is getting such attention, but I wish people would stick to emails or letters."

But they could be in for a dull date. Eugene's university friend Joe Parker, 29, recalled: "I once told him my stereo was broken and he bored me to death for the next three hours with possible reasons why."

Source: The Mirror