National Lottery winner bags £500,000 on Thunderball but goes back to sleep thinking it's a dream

A National Lottery player is over the moon after scooping a massive £500,000 Thunderball jackpot - initially mistaking his win for a wild dream.

Retired British Gas worker Raymond Young, 63, couldn't believe his luck when he checked his Thunderball ticket in a sleepy haze and saw he'd hit the jackpot on March 23. It wasn't until the next day that reality sunk in, and he realised his 'dream' was actually a half-a-million-pound reality.

Raymond, who's been loyal to his Thunderball numbers for nearly a quarter of a century, has already treated himself to a new car and caravan with his winnings. He's now taking a breather to figure out how to make the most of his newfound fortune. Raymond recounted the surreal moment, saying: "I had woken up in the middle of the night and randomly decided to check my numbers, which led me to see that I had won the top prize. I must have still been half asleep though as, in the morning, I genuinely thought it was all a dream.

"So, when I decided to have another check in the morning, this time fully awake, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that I was still a winner! I've treated myself to a new car, as I was already shopping around for one, so this just made it all the easier to buy what I wanted.

"I've also bought a static caravan, something that I've wanted to do for a long time but have never been able to. I've chosen a beautiful spot on the coast so I can't wait to start going there with my family and friends."

Raymond, who's from Edinburgh, scooped the jackpot with a ticket from Keystore (Fordel Services) in Dalkeith, Scotland. His lucky Thunderball numbers drawn on March 23 were 12, 14, 17, 25, 29 and the Thunderball 14, reports Lancs Live. After pocketing the cash, Raymond's first jaunt was to his beloved Blackpool, a place he's frequented since childhood. He reminisced: "For me, Blackpool has and will always be a home from home. It holds such special memories and I just love visiting a few times a year."

He continued: "I've been going there my whole life, from playing on the beach as a kid to staying with friends over the last decade, so it just had to be the place I chose to celebrate my win! ".