Angela Cunningham, the single mum who has won a record 35 million pounds in a lottery, has said that she will start a dream new life in Italy.
London, Aug.15 : Angela Cunningham, the single mum who has won a record 35 million pounds in a lottery, has said that she will start a dream new life in Italy.
Within minutes of learning she had scooped the mammoth windfall, Angela told post office workmates: "You won't be seeing me again - no chance!"
She now intends to swap the two-bed-room flat where she has struggled to raise son John, 14, for a luxury villa in Italy, where her sister lives. A friend said last night: "She's over the moon about leaving all this behind."
Angela's Euromillions windfall makes her Britain's biggest ever lottery winner - and it is a classic rags-to-riches tale.
Since splitting up with husband Gerry Kelly seven years ago she has scrimped to provide for herself and John. The friend told the The Mirror how Angela, 40, was so skint at the weekend she had to borrow money to get a taxi home after a night out.
Angela earned about 16,000 pounds a year at the post office.
Since splitting up with Gerry she has had an on-off relationship with postman William Quinn, which is said to have ended recently.
Neither was invited to her celebration with lottery bosses yesterday. They remained at work as she cracked open the bubbly. Angela, who paid œ1.50 for a lucky dip ticket, did not realise she had scooped the jackpot until Monday morning - three days after the numbers were drawn.
The ticket was in her handbag and she only checked it when she realised no-one had yet claimed the 35,424,412 million prize.
Workmates told how she remained calm despite discovering she was suddenly rich.
One said: "She didn't even jump up and down. She put on the kettle then popped to the loo." But lotto bosses sprang into action - picking Angela up from work and spiriting her away.
Angela's flat in East Kilbride was empty yesterday. Gerry, 45, declined to comment at his home last night.
Angela will be officially unveiled as Britain's biggest lottery winner today at a press conference hosted by a Mirror columnist.
ANI