Paul Potts struggled for cash in New York

Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts has revealed that he did not have any money during his recent trip to New York.

The opera singer was given £100,000 after winning the ITV1 talent show last month, but the cheque did not clear for a week and Paul's bank refused to give him an overdraft.

Potts recently travelled to the States with wife Julie Anne and made his US TV debut, ahead of the release of debut album One Chance next week.

"It was a little bit embarrassing - when I was in New York I didn't have any money. The bank wouldn't give us even a £500 overdraft for three days - they refused twice," Paul told the News of the World. "Yet they knew who we were and they knew what had happened but they just wouldn't give me a temporary overdraft. Strangely enough now they can't do enough!

"I did manage to get my wife a present - sunglasses, not especially expensive ones just ones that I thought work with her skin tone, but I had to borrow money for that. The moneys in the bank now but it's very odd - I'm used to the card being spat out at me."