By Christine Lavelle
A LUCKY lotto couple couldn’t believe it when all SEVEN of their lines came up on Saturday – including one hitting the £2m jackpot.
Electrician Brian Sharp said he and wife Ann, both 48, were stunned when they scooped a quarter-share of the £8m rollover prize, netting a cool £2,033,705.
But – as the couple picked lines all containing a mix of seven lucky numbers – every line they played won them some cash, with the others matching five balls and grabbing a further £2,164 each.
By the time the Musselburgh couple counted all their extra winnings, they were a further £13,000 better off.
Ann, an admin assistant, said: “I couldn’t believe it, it was our lucky number seven for choosing those numbers and we are over the moon.
“I felt like I was in a big bubble.
“I kept pinching myself because I thought I was dreaming.
“I called Brian at work and my voice was shaking so he knew I wasn’t joking.”
Now Brian, a diehard Hearts fan, is planning to use his massive lotto win to finally buy himself a season ticket at Tynecastle.
And – in a small concession to Ann – he has also agreed to whisk them away on a Caribbean cruise for their silver wedding anniversary later this year, as well as treating children Leanne, 21, Lauren, 18, and Graeme, 23.
Speaking at Tynecastle Stadium Brian, an electrician for RBS at Gogarburn, said: “I used to come here when I was a wee boy and jump the turnstiles, so it’s always been a dream of mine to be a season ticket holder.
“We were planning a cruise for our silver anniversary because it is a special one, but had only planned on going around the Mediterranean – now I think we will head for the Caribbean.
“We are also going to look for a new house too because our daughters are 18 and 21 and share a room, we have promised they will both get their own rooms.”
And – despite his new multi-millionaire status – Brian has vowed not to leave workmates in the lurch and has promised to keep his feet firmly on the ground.
Brian said: “Ann is hoping to give up work immediately but I need to hang on until a replacement is found for me since I work with high voltage equipment and don’t want to leave them in the lurch.
“We are definitely going to keep ours’ and the children’s feet firmly on the ground.”
Simon Horne, from the National Lottery said: “By using a system of ‘wheeling’ Brian and Ann were able to maximise the amount they won.
“They chose seven numbers and played all the possible combinations, meaning that when they won, they won big.”
The couple had played the lottery for over six years, but had never won much more than £10.
Ann said they have yet to take a look at their new back account balance but are looking forward to the freedom it will allow them.
