A Sussex couple were today celebrating a £2.3 million National Lottery win.

Bryan Coghlin and his wife Geraldine feared a bleak Christmas, waiting to hear if he would have a job in the New Year.

But after an evening out at a restaurant in Littlehampton to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary, their life changed - the couple, both 56, got home to find they had won the Lotto jackpot.

Next day, Bryan called work and said he would not be clocking in again at the Worthing chemical plant where he has been a fitter for nine years and where four redundancies have been announced.

He said: "We were stunned. When we realised we had won we just hugged each other.

"I was supposed to be at work for 7am but I called my boss at 8am and said 'I won't be coming in because I've won the lottery'. "He said 'Yeah right' and I told him it was true.

"I hope now one of the other lads can have my job."

Geraldine works at Mark Jones greengrocers in Rustington and is serving two weeks' notice.

The couple have played the lottery every week since it started in 1994.

Until last Wednesday, when they won £2,329,779 on the double rollover draw, the most they had received was £44 and the occasional £10.

They were enjoying their meal as the draw was made and when they arrived home, Geraldine found they had matched all six numbers when she checked the results on Teletext.

The couple went round to see Bryan's brother, Daniel, so he could double-check the numbers they selected randomly several years ago.

The couple plan to sell their terraced, three-bedroom home in Littlehampton to buy a bungalow and Bryan wants to change his Vauxhall Corsa for a BMW.

They are also planning a no-expense-spared holiday. Bryan said: "Geraldine has always said if we won the lottery a holiday in Hawaii would be her dream."

"We're not taking any rush decisions. We've told our son Stephen and our daughter Laura if they need some money straight away we can arrange it. We want to let things settle down and enjoy Christmas."

But Geraldine admits they may "upgrade" their Christmas presents.

Bryan said: "I can't understand anybody who says it won't change them. We will change. Our horizons have changed now."

But one thing won't change. The couple plan to keep on playing the lottery.