A WISH upon a star has helped an Ashcott pub chef scoop an extra large serving of National Lottery cash after hitting the £4,986,272 jackpot on Saturday (August 18).

Paul Hardware, 51, works at the village's Piper's Inn and said the win came following a run of luck earlier in the week after he looked to the heavens following a snooker session with his son.

Now he and his wife Denise, 46, are looking forward to enjoying an à la carte lifestyle, including buying a new house and jetting off on a few holidays in the sun.

"I was leaving the snooker hall with my son Matthew a couple of weeks ago and saw the first star in the sky," he said.

"I decided, for a laugh, to follow the tradition and make a wish so I wished to win the lottery - since then I have had a real run of luck.

"I put £1 on last Wednesday's Lotto draw and won £10. I then found a £10 note in the street and then on Saturday I hit the jackpot - I can't believe it."

The winning Lotto Lucy Dip ticket was bought at Street and used the numbers 2, 12, 26, 32, 37 and 47.

Since moving to Somerset from Wales, the lucky winner has been a regular visitor to his native country and is a big Welsh rugby fan.

He said he would be definitely using some of his winnings to watch the Welsh kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign next month.

He and Denise also plan to buy a new house in Street, as well as looking after their son, Matthew.

"It's a big relief to be able to pay off the mortgage, but we will definitely look round for a new property," he said.

"We already have an idea of the house that we fancy.

"We will also be booking a few holidays - I really don't mind where it is as long as it's hot and sunny."