Granddad Mick Wigham, 62, was one of eight ticketholders who matched all six numbers last weekend to claim a £500,000 share of the £4m jackpot.

And it was Glyn Taylor who sold the winning ticket from his shop, Taylor's Newsforce in The Chare, Peterlee.

Glyn, who has run the store with his brother Barry since 1952, said: "We are delighted. He is our first big winner on the lottery and
I think the only one there has been in Peterlee.

"This is the oldest newsagent in town, so it is fitting that we are the first to have a jackpot.

"We have had our fair share of winners in the past, but mainly on scratch cards so it is great to see someone win the big one.

"I hope he is the first of many. Quite a few customers have seen it in the paper and mentioned it and perhaps the luck will rub off onto them,

I certainly hope so." Mick, a former chairman of a local branch of Age Concern, watched from his home in Thornley as the numbers popped up on TV last Saturday.

Mick and his wife, Liz, 60, banked £524,020 after they shared the jackpot of £4,192,160 with seven other lucky winners.

They are already planning to buy their council house, holiday in Devon and treat their two children, Joanne, 39, and John, 32, as well as their four grandchildren.

And as well as the obvious winners Glyn says there are many others who benefit from the National Lottery.

He said: "The lottery is very important to all newsagents and it is a great thing to be involved in.

"Not only are there the prizes but they help so many charities, and you only have to look around Peterlee to see the difference they make."