STAFF at the Fleur-de-Lys shop where a mum discovered she had a £1million-winning scratchcard told how the winner "started screaming" when she found out.

Sharon Brooker, 44, who works as a shop assistant in Dhaliwa Stores, Fleur-de-Lys, sold the winnng scratchcard to katie Smyth, 24, of Tir-y-berth. The young mum of three purchased a winning Merry Millionaire lottery scratchcard on November 7 at around 11am.

Miss Brooker said: "She's a regular customer, who comes in and buys scratchcards everyday. She bought a few with her cousin and won a few quid.

"The second lot she bought, she went all white and they both started screaming. She was in shock and then they started hugging.

"I was shaking all day - I didn't believe them. I had to get Jagdeep to check it."

The mother of four added: "It was amazing. I kept expecting other people to win something. Everyone has been coming in to buy the Merry Millionaires ones since then."

Jagdeep Singh Dhaliwal, who runs the Spar shop with his wife Jasmeet said that they've seen an increase in people buying scratchards.

He said: "We are now known as the lucky shop. We can only give the winnings up to £400 - they have to send away for larger amounts.

"They buy all different ones - it's like James Bond they pick a number 7 as their favourite number and choose that card."

Mrs Dhaliwal, 25, said: "Everyone is calling us the £1 million shop. We were all very excited, we never expected someone to win.

"It is the first time someone's won so much money. A man who runs the barber shop down the road won about £1,000 three weeks ago."

The shop has many regular customers who purchase scratchcards at the spot. Leanne Coundley, 27, support worker, said: "Everyone's heard of the win. This is the first time I've bought five scratchcards."

Lyn Ryan, 63, manager at Hepburn's Hair and Beauty saloon, said: "This type of thing doesn't happen in this little village. It is just fabulous.

"We heard screaming from next door when she won."

Jim Evans, 77, of Keith's fruit and Veg, said: "Everybody has heard about it. I wish I would have won. I would be in the Caribbean by now."