UK Euro-Millions winners vow to live normal life

UK; A British couple who scooped a record 190 million euros in the EuroMillions lottery said Tuesday that they would carry on running their music shop and try to give their children a normal upbringing.

Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Suffolk in eastern England, were the sole winners of the jackpot worth 149 million ($235 million) in Friday’s draw.

The euro conversion rate means that while the prize is a record in euros, it is worth slightly less in pounds than the 161 million won by a Scottish couple in the EuroMillions in July last year.

Revealing their identities at a press conference on Tuesday, the Bayfords said they intended to lavish some of their winnings on friends and family who had supported them in the early years of their marriage.

Gillian Bayford, a 40-year-old health care assistant at a hospital, said she had worried last week that they might run out of money before her next pay cheque.

“We bought (the ticket) because we needed money,” she said. “Everybody struggles in this recession and this month has been an extremely tight month.” She added: “We were struggling.” Gillian said she now planned to buy an Audi Q7 sportscar -- while her stocky husband joked that he might buy a Mini.

He added that he would actually be buying “a chunky car, as I’m a bit of a chunky guy.” Their two young children want to visit Disney World, but the couple stressed that they wanted to continue to live the lives of “a normal family”.

“We’re quite grounded,” said Gillian, adding that they will think carefully before moving out of their modest house.

AFP