A British couple identified Monday as the lucky co-winners of a massive jackpot of 130-million euros (176.4 million dollars) said they were left speechless by their "amazing" win which they would use to buy new home, new cars and a Shetland pony.
Nigel Page, 43, and Justine Laycock, 41, who have jobs in property management and estate agency, are entitled to half the money won on a Europe-wide lottery ticket - with the other half going to as yet unidentified winners in Spain. Estate agent Laycock, from Bath, in south-west Britain, said she would not go to back to work after the massive windfall which the couple saw as a "fantastic opportunity" to help members of their wider family lead a "more comfortable life."
"I would love a house with a back door to let the dog out and some gadgets for the children," said Laycock. She would also buy a pony for one of her daughters. Page, a property developer, said he had just paid off the last instalment on his 4-year-old white van and would upgrade to a BMW four-wheel drive. Page said he did not believe that the "Congratulations" message flashing up on his laptop after breakfast Saturday was meant for him. He woke Laycok to check on "something important" on the computer without telling her what it was.
The day had been so hectic that he forgot to get chocolates and flowers for Valentine's Day on Sunday, said Page. The sum is a record for a lottery take in Britain. However, it does not beat the record for the world's largest lottery take, claimed last year by a 25-year-old Spaniard who won 126.2 million euro in the Euro Millions lottery. The other winning ticket in last Friday's draw was bought in Spain, but the winners have not been identified. The lottery is open to inhabitants of France, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium.