Ex-factory workers' lottery joy

Workers at a north Shropshire factory who won a lottery syndicate worth almost £7 million said their lives have been transformed by the cash.

Former employees of Palethorpes pie factory in Market Drayton, met up at the Goldstone Hall Hotel, near Market Drayton, yesterday - which was almost a year to the date they won their millions.

Each of the 33 syndicate members carried off £240,000, with husband and wife employees Daryl and David Bowden and Alan and Jane Domagalski taking almost half a million per couple.

"It's so nice to know that we are comfortable and we now haven't got anything to worry about. It has changed our lives," Mrs Bowden, 56, said.

"We found out on the Friday night, when my sister rang me and told me to check my lottery numbers. I was in shock, and we phoned up Camelot, and then we had to wait to make sure we had definitely won."

Since the win on November 17 last year, the couple have bought a new house, helped their daughters to buy a new house and a new car and helped their son to start taking driving lessons.

They plan to purchase their very first brand new car in the new year, and also want to visit their daughter, who lives in Germany more often.

Mr and Mrs Domagalski also invested a large proportion of their winnings, but splashed out on a scooter for Mr Domagalski, who now attends more motorcycle conventions.

Mr Domagalski, 55, has since left Palethorpes, but now works part-time in Woolworths in Market Drayton, and plans to continue this until he retires at 60.

Sam Cadman, one of the youngest syndicate winners at 31, has bought a new home for her fiance and herself, and enjoyed holidays, but plans to splash out on a wedding.

"I was in a two-bedroomed house so we moved to a three bed and did it up, and we are going to get married in a couple of years' time. I also had some holidays to Menorca, Lanzarote and Bulgaria, which was the best because there was my fiance, myself, my sister and my parents all there," she said.

By Abigail Bates