£33m Lottery Winners Keen To Help Victims Of Floods

£33m Lottery Winners Keen To Help Victims Of Floods

A husband and wife who scooped £33 million on the lottery are considering using some of their winnings to help victims of the recent floods - and to buy a new pair of shoes.

A "stunned" David and Carol Martin, both 54, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, are celebrating after winning half of the UK's biggest-ever Lotto jackpot in Saturday's draw.

The couple's win has also catapulted them to the top of the Lotto rich list.

They have admitted the massive sum "will certainly change" their lives as they were unveiled as the winners at a hotel on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

As well as unveiling details of some initial spending plans, and their hopes for an early retirement, they hinted they may look to help some of those affected by the floods which hit the UK recently.

Their "tight-knit" hometown was among the places affected by the flood damage when the River Teviot burst its banks.

Mr Martin said: "We don't have all the answers yet but we'd like to help our closest friends and family, and there are charities which are important to us too.

"Parts of our community have also been hit by flooding and we know lots of people who have struggled in recent times, so there's a lot for us to work out, but it's a nice problem to have."

Mr Martin did not elaborate on the idea at the press conference but told reporters: "It's not just Hawick affected by the floods, it's the whole of the country. When you see the damage, it's horrible."

On the couple's spending wish-list is a new home in the country, local to where they live now; a holiday home in the sun and a Range Rover.

Mr and Mrs Martin - self-confessed sports fans - also spoke of their desire to get to certain events around the world, including golf's Masters at Augusta and the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Mr Martin is also planning a new addition to his wardrobe.

He said: "When you see on the telly, it's 'the car, the house'. But everybody's at a level that they are spending at.

"It sounds stupid but (I'd like) just a nice pair of shoes, a pair of brogues at £200. It sounds really, really stupid but it's just how it is. It will take a little while to sink in, to be honest."

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