IT PROVED an extra special Christmas for eleven lucky employees from Makerfield Timber, who are in celebratory mood after scooping almost £108,000 on the National Lottery.

Their winning ticket of five numbers and the bonus ball, landed them a total of £107,866 which works out as just under £10,000 each.

Syndicate leader Gary Newman, a sales manager who lives in Garswood, told the Star: "Apart from the odd tenner, this is the first win we've had and we've been doing the Lottery since it started so we're all understandably delighted about it.

"My wife Suzanne and I now plan to take a week's holiday in Lanzarote for the Millennium and we might go to Australia for a few weeks next year."

Fellow winner, counter sales assistant, Darren Kilshaw (22) said: "I am planning to move house next year so this money will come in very handy for that. I was actually the last person to join the syndicate - I have only been paying in for two months - so it is great to win such a big amount so soon."

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