A CARE worker from North Yorkshire has scooped half-a-million pounds on the National Lottery.

Eleanor Duckitt, 66, from Cayton near Scarborough, said she was over the moon after her numbers came up in the Thunderball draw last Saturday.

She discovered her good fortune while at work on the evening of the draw as she was checking the numbers with a colleague. It was not until the following morning that she was able to contact Camelot to confirm the £500,000 win.

She said: “I bought my usual Thunderball Lucky Dip ticket hoping I’d win a couple of quid, but never expected for a moment that I’d win half-a-million pounds.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing Thunderball and Lotto, but I couldn’t believe it when all five numbers and the Thunderball came up. I was just so excited, I phoned my children to let them know I’d won and they couldn’t believe it either.

“I didn’t sleep a wink that night and contacted Camelot first thing on Sunday. When they confirmed I had won the top prize it was like a dream come true.”

Eleanor said when she finally got the visit from Camelot confirming the win she was “completely stunned”.

“It just made everything real. My family and I really still can’t believe it. Everyone is very excited for me.”

She has not yet decided how she plans to spend her winnings but treating and helping out her three children and six (soon to be seven) grandchildren is definitely on the cards.

Eleanor said she also liked to travel so a big family holiday was something she was looking forward to planning over the next few months.

The ticket was bought from Morrisons in Scarborough.