Van driver wins lottery after buying scratchcard having popped to shop to buy vape in bid to quit smoking

Meat delivery driver John McFadden, 63, of Southampton, is celebrating after winning the money on The National Lottery’s 50X Scratchcard.

John, who delivers meat from butchers all around the country, decided it was time to quit smoking - with him handsomely rewarded after he popped to the shop.

He said: ‘I knew I had to do something about my smoking. With the change of buying the vape, I also decided to buy a Scratchcard and took it home.

‘When I started scratching it off, it said £50,000 under the first number and I thought “whoopee!” I carried on and just kept seeing more and more £50,000s. I thought it was a lot but didn’t know what to believe.’

John immediately drove to the shop to have it checked where the shop assistant said: ‘Sorry, that win is too big for me to pay out.’

John said: ‘When I called Camelot to get it confirmed, I was just stunned when they said I had in fact actually won £1m and that I was a millionaire - I couldn’t believe it was real.’

At the top of John’s millionaire bucket list is a new home closer to his three children and two granddaughters.

‘After my divorce, my children moved to Weymouth so now they and my grandkids all live there. I see them as much as I can but am often away driving the van,’ he said.

‘Having a base close to them will mean I can see them all so much more. Hopefully, the bar and hot tub I plan to have in my new back garden will also mean more fun family time.

‘I’m not planning to give up work - I’m nowhere near retirement age. But I do work long hours so cutting back a bit will help me to spend more time with family.’

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John’s first purchase was a brand-new Skoda Kamiq and he has ambitions to go travelling again - with a dream trip to Bora Bora likely to be his first luxury getaway.

John also plans to help out his family. ‘With the win I can help out my children and make sure they have something to inherit when I am no longer around. I’m also considering investing in property further down the line but, I’ll get myself a new home first,’ he said.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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