A BELFAST cleaner is celebrating after winning £300,000 on a National Lottery Scratchcard.
Maureen Wilkinson (58) from the Cregagh Estate in the east of the city was being driven to work by her son Scott when she scratched her way to more than a quarter of a million pounds.
“You’re going to have to stop the car son,” she told him after matching three figures on the National Lottery Bejeweled Scratchcard she purchased from her local shop that morning.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Maureen. “I felt sick and was sure that I’d done something wrong. I asked my son to stop the car but he couldn’t as we were in traffic but when we came to the next set of traffic lights, he had a quick look and told me that I hadn’t gone mad… and that I’d really won £300K.
“He dropped me off at work and I did my usual five-hour shift without saying a word to any of my colleagues, before going home to try and come to terms with what had just happened. I certainly had an extra spring in my step at work that day though!
“I bought the scratchcard on a Sunday so wasn’t able to phone the National Lottery claim line until the next day when, much to my joy -and relief - they confirmed that I was a winner."
Having won the prize, Maureen has no plans yet on how she’ll spend all the money but already has her eye on a new three-piece suite for her home and, although she doesn’t drive, a new car for the family.
“I think I’m still in shock,” continued Maureen, who has been a cleaner for nine years, having previously worked in a local Chinese takeaway. “I’ll not be going mad with my winnings and I won’t be leaving my job. I plan to keep my feet well and truly on the ground and try to do what’s best with the money.”
