"I still don’t quite believe it," was the reaction of Mrs Beatrice Williamson aged 69, of North View, Knottingley, to a £25,000 pools success shared with her daughter-in-law, Muriel. The winning coupon was only their second this season with the particular pools firm.

"My late husband Fred, used to do the pools every week, but never won anything. I used to tell him he made all the profits for them," said Mrs Williamson. "We are not planning any family celebration because of my heart condition, but next year I’m going to Filey where Fred and I used to go every year, and as a special treat I hope to go to a holiday camp at Blackpool with the grandchildren."

"The first thing we are spending some money on is new clothes for the kids and some coal. I’ve had to make do with three fires a week now that the coal concession is so low. The only other plan I have is to frame the cheque and hang it on the wall when I get it back from the bank."