National Lottery winner wins £500,000 thanks to ‘back pocket’ trick.

A National Lottery winner has scooped a £500,000 jackpot – with a “secret trick” he’s had “in his back pocket” for 25 YEARS. Thunderball winner Raymond Young has revealed that he has been using the same lucky numbers since the Thunderball draw was launched two and a half decades ago.

Raymond, from Edinburgh, who is 63, says his winning numbers on Saturday, March 23, were 12, 14, 17, 25, 29 and 14 Thunderball. The former British Gas worker – who celebrated with a trip to Blackpool – gushed about his good fortune.

“I woke up in the middle of the night and randomly decided to check my numbers, which made me see that I had won the top prize… I really thought it was all a dream,” he said. “So when I decided to do another check in the morning, this time fully awake, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that I was still a winner!”

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“It holds such special memories and I enjoy visiting a few times a year,” he said. He added: “I’ve been going there all my life, from playing on the beach as a kid to hanging out with friends for the last decade, so it had to be the place I chose to celebrate my win!”

“I’ve wanted a static caravan for a long time,” he said. “I picked a beautiful place on the coast so I can’t wait to start going there with my family and friends.” Mr Young bought his winning ticket from Keystore, known locally as Fordel Services, in Dalkeith, Midlothian.

He has already bought himself a new car and a holiday home since pocketing his winnings from the March 23 draw. He initially checked his ticket while half asleep and couldn’t believe his eyes when it turned out he was indeed a winner.