Colchester: Lottery Win For Teenager

A teenager from Essex is celebrating after winning a share of the National Lottery jackpot.

19-year-old Eloise Hutchinson from Colchester won £1,346,840 in the New Year's Eve draw.

Eloise thought that winning big would be "a good way to start the New Year," and so bought the £1 lucky dip ticket on Friday December 30th at her work at Co-Op in Shrub End. The 19-year-old also works as a beauty therapist.

Eloise checked the ticket on New Year's Day and initially thought she had matched four numbers and asked boyfriend David how much to expect: "He took one look and said no you've got them all. I didn't know how much it was and went downstairs to tell my mum, she just didn't believe it."

After nipping back to her work, which confirmed the ticket was a big winner, Eloise called Camelot and it was only then that she discovered it was worth over £1.3 million.

She revealed: "I didn't really celebrate until the ticket was validated and the prize paid on Friday. The bank gave me some cash and I spent Saturday in Lakeside which was brilliant."

Eloise, who lives with her mum and younger sister, has some spending plans but is still in shock at her fortune: "I can now buy a house and will replace my old Ford Fiesta. I would love to take a holiday in Jamaica but not until later in the year.

"I have already been back in work and will continue doing both my jobs, this win will make everything just a little bit easier, I am so please."

The winning numbers from the draw were 7, 11, 37, 38, 42, 44.

Eloise and her boyfriend David Heard, 25, have been presented with their cheque at a ceremony held at Prested Hall, Feering, Colchester today (Monday January 9th).