A METROPOLITAN police officer who lives in Chatham has scooped more than £2 million on the National Lottery.

PC Tony Stubley, a life-long fan of the 80s new wave group the Stranglers, who has watched them perform more than 100 times, fulfilled his dreams of meeting the band when they presented him with his cheque.

PC Stubley, a divorcee, went home £2,213,141 richer after hitting the jackpot in last Wednesday's lotto draw.

The superstitious policeman thought something big was going to happen when his pet black cat Scorcha would not leave his side - even when he took a shower.

It was last Thursday morning that PC Stubley discovered he had won. He said: "I was checking my numbers from the newspaper while waiting to change trains at Bromley station.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw they were my numbers, but had no idea how much I had won.

"I immediately rang my partner Julie and asked her to check my e-mails. As I play Lotto Online I receive an email alert telling me any good news, so I know I will never miss out.

"Julie wouldn't tell me how much I had won over the phone but said I should come home straight away. The 50 -minute train journey home felt like forever with so many scenarios running through my mind, but never thinking I had won more than £2 million."

Tony and Julie, who have three children between them Samantha, 19, Michael, 15 and Greg, nine, have already started thinking about how to spend their winnings.

The couple plan to buy a new house, take a holiday in Iceland and buy a new Skoda. They both also want to buy their own wood. PC Stubley explained: "We are both very much 'green' at heart and love walking through the beautiful Kent countryside. I have always wanted to own a wood and with my Lotto win I can make my dream a reality."

The presentation was made on Tuesday at Eltham Palace in South East London.