Asda worker and her forklift driver fiancé scoop £1m on EuroMillions after buying ticket on 'a whim'

A supermarket worker won the £1million jackpot on the EuroMillions after buying a ticket on a whim and is now planning her dream wedding after a 15-year engagement.

Ellie Land, 41, from Norwich, Norfolk, was buying groceries when she went into her local Asda store to use the toilet. 

She emerged to find her fiancé, Karl Ward, a 43-year-old forklift driver, who was waiting for her by the counter which sold lottery tickets, which prompted her to buy a ticket for the draw that night.

Ms Land, who works at the store, realised she had won a EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker prize after checking the lottery app on her phone.

The couple are now planning a big Christmas celebration, and to spend some of their winnings on getting married next year after a 15 year engagement.

Ms Land said: 'We had popped into Asda on the way home from visiting friends to grab some bread and milk.

'Karl waited for me while I went to use the bathroom, and when I came out he was by The National Lottery counter so I decided to get a EuroMillions ticket for the draw that night.

'I don't always play, just on a whim, so when my colleague wished me luck, I laughed and said 'if I win something I'll treat you.'

'Little did I think then that we'd win £1 million, I'll certainly be going back with a little something for her.

'Thinking back on that day I keep laughing, I spent a penny and won a million.'

The couple who have two children are now planning to buy a new house as 'a forever family home' after two decades of renting.

The pair, who have two children, are also planning a celebration with family and friends, and going to Disneyland on their first foreign holiday. 

Ms Land is also splashing out on a bottle of wine for her work colleague who sold her the winning ticket for the draw on November 4.

They only discovered the win on the evening of November 6 after returning home from a wine tasting event in Norwich.

Ms Land said she sat at her dining table to check her ticket by scanning its QR code and found out she had won as her children watched television and her mother made a cup of tea.

She shared the news with Mr Ward before her mum walked in and asked if they were OK after seeing their 'very ashen and shocked faces'.

Ms Land then responded: 'I've just won a million pounds!'

Mr Ward said: 'It was a crazy moment. We just laughed and then sat in stunned silence.

'We realised that the National Lottery claim line was closed, so agreed Ellie would call first thing in the morning and then 'enjoyed' a sleepless night repeatedly saying to one another, 'Is this real?'

'In the morning Ellie was worried about being late for work, I bet the lady at Camelot who took the call couldn't believe how quickly she rattled through the details so she could get into work by 9.30am.

'We have been putting off getting married purely because of the funds and having to spend it on children and living. 

'Now we have got the money, we are happy to get married long at last. We are looking forward to Christmas without having to worry about money.'

Ms Land, who plans to continue working, said, 'The wedding and a forever home are top of our list, but the children also have a few requests.

'Our son is looking forward to receiving a PS5, just as soon as we can find one, while our daughter loves Disney so I think we will enjoy our first holiday abroad with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyland.'

'I enjoy my job. I've been there for as long as I have known Karl, so I won't be giving it up, although I will say keeping this a secret has been pretty challenging.

'Many people have asked if Karl would leap at the chance to stop working - he's been on night shift for six years - but he feels the same.

'But thinking about it, perhaps we will take some time off here and there to go to France, or even further afield, for a little wine tasting in the vineyards as opposed to St Andrews Hall in Norwich.'

A father-of-five scooped £1million after taking his late mother's advice to buy two lucky dips. 

An NHS occupational therapist also won £1milion on the National Lottery days before getting the all-clear from breast cancer.