CHRISTMAS has come early for a family who scooped £250,000 on the National Lottery.

Darren and Claire McKeown, of Ripon, North Yorkshire, can look forward to a happy New Year after winning the jackpot on last Saturday's Thunderball draw.

The win comes a month after Mr McKeown changed his numbers to include the birth date and birth weight of the couple's 21-month-old daughter, Erin.

Mrs McKeown, 27, a bank worker, who is looking forward to being able to take a dream cruise, said: "I am over the moon - it will be the experience of a lifetime and it's all down to Darren picking those very lucky numbers."