A lucky man is celebrating a £500,000 win on the lottery after initially believing it was a dream.
Raymond Young, 63, who recently retired from his job working for British Gas, checked his Thunderball ticket while half asleep. He half realised but did not fully take in that he had a winner, believing it was just a crazy dream in the middle of the night.
The next morning he still assumed it had been a dream until he checked his ticket again to find that he had won the top prize. He said: “I genuinely thought it was all a dream. I’ve treated myself to a new car.
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“I’ve also bought a static caravan, something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time but have never been able to.
(Image: Anthony Devlin/National Lottery/PA)
“I’ve chosen a beautiful spot on the coast so I can’t wait to start going there with my family and friends.”
Following his win, the first stop on Raymond’s list to celebrate his success was a trip to his childhood favourite holiday spot – Blackpool.
The retiree has been visiting the seaside resort for most of his life, having first gone there as a youngster with his parents.
Raymond said: “For me, Blackpool has and will always be a home from home.
“It holds such special memories and I just love visiting a few times a year.
(Image: Anthony Devlin/National Lottery/PA)
“I’ve been going there my whole life, from playing on the beach as a kid to staying with friends over the last decade.
“So it just had to be the place I chose to celebrate my win!”
Raymond’s dream destination is unlikely to be the top of many other people’s lists. The so-called Las Vegas of the UK has been ranked the most dangerous place to drive in recent months and has the lowest life expectancy in the country.
It has also been voted one of the nation’s most ” aesthetically depressing ” places.
One critic who once had fond memories said: “I went back a couple of years a go and it was just so depressing. Behind the front it’s a s***hole.”
Another chimed in: “I lived in Blackpool when I was younger and it’s aesthetically so dead, the promenade is a mess of buildings with no identity and you’ll be lucky to find a squirrel.”
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