A couple from Kent are getting ready to retire after winning £1 million in the lottery.

Lucky pair Josie and Bill Woodward, from Ashford, scooped the top prize in the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker.

The couple, who have been married for 37 years, are now planning early retirement and have started hunting for a new house.

Josie said: “When I saw the email saying there was news about the ticket I assumed, like everyone, it would be a couple of pounds.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined it would be enough for Bill to finish work and for us to start looking at the type of houses we are now considering.”

Josie, a mother-of-two, became aware of her victory when she checked her emails on Saturday.

“Bill and I have been in rented accommodation for more than 20 years,” she added.

“While we were looking forward to our retirement we were a bit nervous about renting while on a pension."

“So much so, Bill, who has been in maintenance at the same firm for 16 years, was planning to continue for a few more years beyond retirement age to help ease things.

“Now look at us - if you’d told me this time last week Bill would be handing in his notice and we’d be house hunting I’d think you were mad.”

Josie and Bill bought their winning EuroMillions Millionaire Maker ticket online at national-lottery.co.uk.