A Lotto winning engineer almost missed out on a millionaire lifestyle when fate drew him back to daunting queue to buy a "lucky" dip.

Lucky John Ellis could not face joining the long line of wannabe winners and headed for the supermarket door.

But, as the rain came down heavier outside the Morrisons store, John said: "For some strange reason I found myself turning around and joining the huge queue.

"This ended up being the best decision of my life. It must have been fate."

The morning after the draw, John checked his Lucky Dip numbers in the newspaper and couldn't believe his eyes.

"I sat alone for quite a while and looked at the numers in disbelief - it was a very strange feeling.

"I started to shake and I ran upstairs to tell my wife Sue. We both couldn't take it in. We woke our youngest son but he thought we were joking."

Dad-of-two John, 48, celebrated yesterday with a test drive in his dream car - a Saab 930 Aero Convertible.

The robotics enginner, from Redcar, Teesside, said: "It hasn't really sunk in yet but we're planning a holiday to start with."

Despite becoming a millionaire with his lucky numbers on October 16 and becoming the National Lottery's 1700th winner, John hasn't left work immediately.

The winner of a whopping £2, 069, 730 said: "My boss needs to find a replacement for me so I've agreed not to leave just yet.

"I'm planning to take up a course and learn more about horticulture. I've been wanting to do something for a while now but I just haven't had the time, or the money, to do it.

"Winning the lottery means I now have the freedom to realise this ambition."

John and wife Sue, 45, a staff nurse, bought their winning ticket from Morrisons supermarket in Redcar, east Cleveland. They have played the Lottery for ten years and always pick a Lucky Dip.

The couple also helped launch the Lottery's 10th Birthday celebrations yesterday with a cake in the shape of the number 10, champagne and John's dream car.