Darlington has its second lottery winner within a week.

Former plant operator Barry Moss, 57, of Darlington, County Durham, scooped £7.5 million in Saturday's draw.

And in a remarkable co-incidence the great grandfather today revealed that his partner of more than 20 years, Pat Herriott, knew last week's winner, Anita Wynne, who is also from the market town and who won £3.6 million the previous Saturday.

Mr Moss said today: ''I didn't think I had much of a chance this week after hearing about the other win.''

Mr Moss learnt of his lottery win as he was hosting a barbecue for his family on Saturday night when his grandson Lee checked off the winning numbers.

Speaking at a press conference earlier he said: ''We were watching the lottery numbers come up on a small TV as we were trying to get the barbecue going.

''Lee had the ticket in his hand, I was looking over his shoulder and saw that I had the first three numbers, then fourth, then the fifth, and finally the sixth.

''I just stood there completely in shock ... I really didn't know what to do.

''After that the barbecue went out of the window.''

Mr Moss's winning numbers were 24, 34, 37, 38, 41 and 49 which saw him win £7,573,460.

Read more about this remarkable story in The Northern Echo on Tuesday.

Updated: 17.17 Monday, July 9