A barmaid is raising a celebratory glass after winning one of the top prizes of £250,000 on a National Lottery Scratchcard.
Karen Whitty, aged 48, is now a quarter of a million pounds richer thanks to the purchase of a lucky scratchcard on her way to work.
The mother-of-five and grandmother-of-seven, who works at The Rosehill Tavern in Westhoughton, bought the £250,000 Red scratchcard while out doing her weekly shopping.
She said: “I normally pop to the shops on my way to work. On this particular day, I just had a lucky feeling. This scratchcard just caught my eye.
“I scratched it straight after buying it and before I even left the shop. I could not actually believe what I was seeing when it really was a winner and not just a dream – it was all of these zeros flashing in front of my eyes.”
Karen said she immediately called Camelot who confirmed she had won a top prize.
Not wanting to let her colleagues or regular customers down, Karen continued about her daily routine and went to work her shift at the pub.
Karen, who has no plans to give up work, says she is now looking forward to her best Christmas ever thanks to her windfall.
She added, “I’ve got a big family so I’ll make this a Christmas to remember for everyone.
It will feel like we have all won the lottery. Every parent worries that they won’t be able to afford nice presents but this year I will pull out all the stops.”
Top of Karen’s shopping list is a holiday abroad for herself and her partner, Colin Everitt, 49.