An incredibly lucky lotto winner who scooped £2 million says he almost didn't pick up a scratch card because of road works outside the shop.
Ian Black, 61, quit his 40-year job at the Pirelli factory in Calisle, Cumbria after he won the jackpot on his way home from work.
He went through his general routing of stopping at the shop to pick up a newspaper and scratchcard after finishing his night shift.
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But, Ian says he alsmot didn't bother carrying out his normal routine on his lucky day because roadworks outside the shop would have placed an extra half hour on the journey.
Despite this obstacle, he bought a Monopoly Deluxe scratch card.
After scratching the card, Ian rushed home to his wife Sandra, 55, and told her to 'come downstairs and check something'.
Ian said: “I don’t think I have even seen that many zeros. I kept questioning, is this really £2m?
"I immediately phoned work and said to them I wouldn’t be in that day, adding, actually I don’t think I will be in this week, or actually ever again.
“My boss, understandably, sounded really shocked and just said why, what an earth has happened?
"That feeling when I could just say 'I have won the National Lottery' is a moment I will never forget.
“Never did I believe I would ever get to say this. You always dream about it – but it just doesn’t happen to people like Sandra and I – well now we are proof it does.”
Now, the couple is planning an operation for their labrafor/Staffordshire bull terrier cross Meg who needs to have the bones of her leg fused together.
They also hope to buy a plot of land in the countryside so they can build their dream home - Sandra also treated herself to a new Volvo and a 75-inch TV.
The couple also hopes to get their five children and grandchildren on the property ladder since they are all currently renting.
Ian said of the winning ticket: “It's not just life-changing for us, it's life-changing for the whole family.
"They'll all get a treat and I'm going to get advice on how I can use it to make money.
"Something was just telling me to buy it.
“I went out of the shop and sat and scratched it – I just could not believe what I was seeing. I let out a scream and immediately drove home.
"As I went into the house I was shouting to my wife, Sandra, to come down the stairs. She immediately thought something had happened to the dog.
"I said 'no, we have won £2m'.
“She just thought it was all a joke – but then she looked at the card and almost fainted. Sandra just went white.
“To think I almost didn’t go into the shop on that morning because of the roadworks.
"I really was so close to just driving past.”
The scratch card Ian bought was The Monopoly Deluxe where prizes range from £5 up to the top prize of £2m.
Ian added: “It is all just so overwhelming and I actually think the news is still sinking in.
“Sandra and I now cannot wait to really live the dream and make the absolute most of our retirement! What a magical moment this is in our lives!”
