STOGURSEY couple Richard and Dione Buss are celebrating after scooping a £1.8 million win on the National Lottery.

But their dream win might never have happened had it not been for a "niggling feeling" which saved the jackpot-winning ticket from the recycling bin.

Richard and Dione had bought the ticket for two lottery draws but consigned it to the recycled paper pile after just one draw.

It was only when Dione, 47, retrieved the slip and checked the numbers she released they matched the second draw.

The couple were then unable to validate their win for a full 12 hours because the Camelot office was closed.

When they were finally able to confirm the winning amount of £1,888,630 the pair said they were 'dumbfounded'.

Speaking at a press conference to announce their good fortune, Dione said: "When we realised we'd won and the amount we'd won it was absolutely unbelievable.

"It still hasn't sunk in really, we're still a bit dumbfounded.

"My daughter thought we were joking, as did my dad.

"Everyone is just so pleased for us, they keep telling us to sort ourselves out as a family now before we start using it for other people."

Dione, who works as a tax collector, and husband Richard, 48, a property developer, now plan to travel the world and raise money for good causes.

A classic car and a plot of land to build their own house on is also on the shopping list - as is a new car and a horse for 19-year-old daughter Harriet.

The couple bought the winning ticket while on a family holiday in St Ives in Cornwall at the end of September.

The Wednesday draw passed while they were away and Richard put the ticket into the recycling pile when they returned home.

But the following night - September 28 - they hit the jackpot and did not realise they had won until the following day when Dione had a "niggling feeling" and retrieved the ticket.

They used a winning combination of birthdays, ages and house numbers to scoop the top prize with the numbers 10, 12, 14, 25, 46, and 48.

A delighted Dione said: "Richard had put the ticket out for the recycling and to remind me to buy the next one.

"Fortunately I double checked it and realised we still had another draw to go.

"We actually found out we'd won on Sunday night but it was really late and we couldn't speak to anyone from Camelot until 9am on the Monday.

"I didn't sleep a wink that night, I didn't even try – I watched the TV and did the ironing instead."

Dione works for Bristol City Council and Richard took voluntary redundancy before setting up his own business renovating and restoring properties.

As well as spending money travelling and on family members, Dione, who has MS, hopes the win will enable her to raise money for the Brahms Unit at Frenchay Hospital where she receives treatment.

She is also planning to help the Children's Heart Unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary where her young nephew was fitted for a pacemaker and cancer charities which helped her father in his recent battle with prostate cancer.