Pensioner, 74, scoops nearly £25m on lottery

A pensioner from Bolton has become one of Britain's biggest ever Lottery winners, scooping nearly £25 million, it was revealed today.

Neighbours of Brian and Joan Caswell said the couple were whisked away by limousine this morning - shortly before press and TV descended on their £150,000 three-bed house.

Mr Caswell, 74, is a retired engineer and keen gardener, helping to run the Harpers Lane Allotment Society in the town, while his 71-year-old wife, a former bookbinder, enjoys going to the gym, according to neighbours.

The couple, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago, have two daughters, Angela, 45, who lives in Halifax, and Helen, 47, who lives locally, and have four grandchildren between them.

Mr Caswell is one of two lucky winners to take a half share of last Friday night's bumper £50m Euromillions jackpot - each taking home £24,951,269.40p.

The other winner has not gone public but is believed to be from Ireland.

It is thought Mr Caswell put the £1.50 stake on at a local newsagent, correctly picking the winning numbers of 6, 14, 16, 34, 50 and the Lucky Star numbers 6 and 4.

The win makes Mr Caswell the third biggest Lottery winner ever, following Angela Kelly, from Glasgow, who scooped £35.4 million in August 2007 and another winner in the same month who won £26.5 million but did not go public.

Therese Ball, 67, their neighbour for 47 years but possibly not much longer, said today: "We saw Joan and Brian ushered into a limo and whisked away to a big hotel.

"All day the street has been full of reporters.

"They will be in a whirl, it won't register. One million, OK, but £25 million? But they are a very nice couple and deserve it.

"I don't know what they will do but I don't think there is much they need. It is a bit late to uproot, they have a lot to think about."

It is understood Mr and Mrs Caswell are planning to go public with their win tomorrow.