A couple from Lancashire who won a whopping £61 million jackpot in the EuroMillions have been publicly named for the first time.
It’s officially Richard and Debbie Nuttall’s lucky day… or we should say lucky life, more like.
The winning couple – who are both 54, from the Lancashire town of Colne, and have been happily married for 30 years – scooped a share of the mega £123 million EuroMillions jackpot in the draw on 30 January earlier this year, and took home a total of £61,708,231.
The Nuttalls were actually on holiday in Fuerteventura celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary when they found out about their life-changing lottery win.
Apparently, the pair mistakenly thought they had only won a measly £2.60, due to some confusion with reading their bank balance, only to find out it was quite the opposite – which led to them being, understandably, “totally stunned”.
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“You dream of winning the lottery, but you never think it’s going to be you,” Mr Nuttall told the media at a press conference at Mitton Hall in Whalley, near Clitheroe, yesterday.
Mr Nuttall explained that he was checking his emails while on holiday last year when he found a message from the National Lottery saying he had a £2.60 win in his account, and when he told his wife, she comically responded: “Woo hoo, we can get a bacon butty with that.”
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But it turns out, they could actually afford quite a bit more than breakfast.
After receiving the initial message, the couple then went out for the day to explore the stunning Spanish island, before returning to their hotel room only to find another National Lottery message asking them to check the account again.
“I looked and it said ‘you’ve won £61,708,231’, ring this number,” Mr Nuttall admitted, and although he couldn’t quite believe it, the win turned out to be true.
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So, what’s next for the Nuttalls then? What are they planning to do with their winnings.
The Lancashire couple who won £61m on the EuroMillions have been publicly named for first time / Credit: Pxhere
Well first, the “dazed” couple have admitted that they have no plans to continue working, with Mrs Nuttall already handing her notice in and Mr Nuttall set to do the same at the end of this tax year, and are already in the process of buying a new house and upsizing to a home that has more room and outdoor space for them and their dog to enjoy.
Mr Nuttall said their lives are going to be “so different” now.
He continued: “We have worked hard all our lives and we are now very much looking forward to taking life a bit easier. But not just that, this win will also change the lives of those closest to us, and hopefully the next generation after that too.”
The Nuttalls also revealed they’ll be making a considerable donation from their winning amount to a charity close to their’s and their family’s hearts – BK’s Heroes, which was set up in their nephew, Ben King’s, memory after he died of a rare condition called Tubular Interstitial Nephritis and Uveitis at the age of 27.
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“This charity means so much to our family and we are all involved,” Mr Nuttall concluded.
Police appeal after teenage girl reports being sexually assaulted in a Stretford park
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal for information has been issued after a teenage girl reported being sexually assaulted in a park in Stretford.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers attended Victoria Park, in the Stretford area, earlier this week on Tuesday night (21 July) following reports that a teenage girl had been sexually assaulted.
The incident is reported to have happened between 5:30pm and 5:44pm, and the offender is described to be an older white male of a large build who was wearing a black t-shirt.
No arrests have been made at this time, GMP confirmed, and enquiries are ongoing.
As police continue their investigation at pace, a public appeal for information has been issued in the hopes that someone can come forward and provide the details needed to track down the offender.
“Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry and the victim is being fully supported by specially trained officers,” explained Detective Superintendent Suzanne Keenaghan, from GMP’s Trafford district.
“There will be an increased police presence in and around Victoria Park while officers continue their investigation and provide reassurance to the local community.”
Police say they are ‘particularly keen’ to hear from anyone who was in the park at the time, or who may have CCTV, doorbell, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area.
Anyone with information can speak to police officers at the scene, call 101, or contact GMP via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3029 of 21/07/26.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues to be slashed by 20% next year
Emily Sergeant
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England are set to be slashed by 20% next year.
Continuing on with his week of, seemingly, introducing a new measure a day amid the cost of living crisis, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has now announced that he has taken action to cut business rates for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across England from April next year.
It’s expected that these new business rate cuts will benefit nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, saving the typical pub an estimated £1,100 in the next financial year.
“For too long, the pubs, social clubs, and live music venues that form the backbone of local high streets have been replaced by boarded up windows and for sale signs,” the Government said in a statement as the cuts were announced today.
Andy Burnham is slashing business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues by 20% next year / Credit: John Arano (via Unsplash) | Wikimedia Commons
These changes are set to be fully funded by the Government – including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops for example.
The Government says it also plans to crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but do not comply with their tax obligations, which therefore puts them at an unfair advantage over businesses that do play by the rules.
I’m giving thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues a 20% cut in business rates.
I won’t stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs.
They’re the heart of our communities and it’s time we backed them.
“Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK,” explained Chancellor John Healey. “They help make a place what we love. They bring people together, support local jobs and help keep high streets, and town centres busy, which is why we will back them all the way.
“We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “For too long, Governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that.
“This Government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets, and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”
Emily Sergeant -
22nd February 2024 
