Lucky Dip lottery win: Warehouse worker lands £242,775

Samantha Morton won an incredible £242,775.50 on a lucky dip and now plans to spend the winnings on buying her dream home after being made redundant this summer.

The 36-year-old was furloughed in March from her job as a Warehouse and Logistics Manager in Dorchester, Dorset.

She made the decision to up sticks and move to Benfleet to live with her partner Barry Lingard, after the couple had spent weekends travelling three-and-a-half hours to see each other.

Lucky Samantha said: “When the pandemic struck, I was put on furlough and both Barry and I really wanted to be closer to each other, so I made the move to Essex to live with Barry and his family.

All smiles - the happy couple

“I was then made redundant in the summer but immediately started looking for jobs in Essex and was lucky enough to find one in a local warehouse, which is where I’ve been working since.

“Essex is where we want to be and this life-changing win means that Barry and I can start looking for a house of our own – it will be amazing!”

Despite not entering the lottery draw often, Samantha’s decision to play a lucky dip certainly paid off after matching the five main numbers and one Lucky Star number in the EuroMillions draw on November 27.

She added: “I’m not a regular National Lottery player but I’d seen the EuroMillions jackpot was getting really big so I thought I’d have a go. I played a lucky dip and it seems the Gods were smiling on me that day.”

Samantha normally works early shifts at the warehouse but now has the luxury of picking her overtime hours.

Alongside searching for a new home, Samantha plans on spending the near quarter of a million-pound winnings on buying her hire purchase car outright, paying off her debts and looking for a holiday when it is safe to do so.

She summed up: “It’s been a tough year but I couldn’t feel more lucky right now. This Christmas is going to be extra special. Like everyone else, we’re looking forward to a better year next year.”