A PUB landlord is celebrating becoming a millionaire in last Friday's EuroMillions draw.
Bedwas publican Nigel Willetts, 48, matched the millionaire raffle ticket - winning him £1 million - plus two numbers on a lucky dip winning him an extra £2.80 in last Friday's draw, a not so unlucky Friday the 13th.
He said it had been welcome good news for the family who had been hit by the death of his step-father Fred Gill just a week earlier aged 76.
He added: "I know I can look after all the people I love and care for."
Mr Willetts, who owns The Bridgend Inn in Bedwas, checked his ticket on his phone on Saturday before asking his partner Jane Whittingham, his girlfriend of three years, to double-check.
He felt he had to go to the Tesco in Crossways where he had bought the ticket to confirm the win as he "had to hear it from someone else".
The former soldier, who was stationed in Germany and Northern Ireland during his six-year stint, got back to his pub at 10.30pm and the good news quickly spread.
The couple celebrated with their close and friends and family until 6am on Sunday but Mr Willetts said he still sent Miss Whittingham, who is a carer, to work the next day.
Mr Willetts said he tried to keep it quiet at first but his children broadcast the news on Facebook
"A lot of people think that I'm going to sell", he added. "I love my pub, I love the people and I just want to improve it.
"Everybody's so pleased, I haven't had any bad feedback, they've said it couldn't happen to a nicer bloke."
After paying off the mortgage on the pub, Mr Willetts, who has four children and two grandchildren, said he hopes to buy a Range Rover and go on holiday.
He added his children had "all put their orders in" but he was not planning to spoil them.
He added: "It's a community pub. They [the regulars] are always in here and they've always supported me."
Mr Willetts' winning raffle number was MKX532718.
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