Couple scoops £850,000 after matching six balls on the lottery

A couple from Midlothian are celebrating after scooping £850,000 on the lottery.

Darren Morgan, 36, and his partner Graham Muir, 47, from Dalkeith matched six numbers on May 2.

The couple had been playing the same numbers of five years but had never won more than £10.

They had decided to change their numbers but had not got round to changing their fast pay card. The system allows customers to use the same numbers every week without having to fill in a slip.

On Thursday, the couple picked up their cheque for £856,640 and revealed their plans for the future.

Mr Morgan said he would not be giving up his job at the Bank of Scotland but might consider cutting down his hours.

He said: "We were so close to throwing in the towel on these numbers. Can you imagine how gutted we would have been if we had?

"Graham and I have a routine where I buy the ticket for Saturday’s draw and he gets Wednesday’s. We were all set to change the numbers but agreed that I would just do it over the weekend when we had more time. Thank God.

"Normally we watch the live draws. However on this occasion, we didn’t watch it. It wasn’t until later that evening I remembered to check the numbers, but my phone signal was down, so I waited until I was walking down the path for work the next day to quickly check the results.

"When I read the numbers I stopped dead in my tracks, turned on my heels and ran back into the house to ask Graham to double check them.

"On accepting that we had won, the first thing I did was call my boss to tell her I would be a little late as I had to call Camelot. She just shrieked and told me to take my time. As soon as I had made all the appropriate calls, I got myself organised and went to work."

The couple have ordered a new car but have no other plans for the money yet.

Mr Morgan: "I have already ordered a new Black Range Rover Evoque, but I need to wait four to six months for it so that means I’ll still be getting the bus for the time being. All Graham wants is a Rolex but he now thinks they’re a bit too expensive, but he deserves a treat."

The ticket was bought at The Co-op in Newtongrange. The winning numbers were 18, 22, 25, 35, 39 and 41.

In March, Ryan Kitching, 19, scooped £53,000 after finding the ticket when he was forced to clean his room by his mother.

The teenager, from Penicuik, had matched five numbers and the bonus ball.

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