Lotto millionaire Derrick Cowley tried to quit his job after scooping the jackpot - but when his boss wasn't in he worked a full shift.

Shipyard worker Derrick, 55, and wife Freda won the Lotto draw but he carried on with his job as usual because none of his bosses at Swan Hunter were in.

It was the next day before he found someone in authority to inform he was leaving .

Now the couple, who have six grandchildren, plan to buy their dream home after collecting their cheque at a secret presentation.

But even then the celebrations had to be put on ice as Derrick had to go into hospital to have kidney stones removed the following day.

Derrick, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, who worked as a rigger at the Tyne yard, said: "I went into work on the Monday but there were no bosses in to tell I was leaving and we didn't know how much we had won.

"After I found out we were millionaires I went in on the Tuesday, told them I was leaving and was back out the gates within 15 minutes.

"We went to get the cheque in Glasgow on Thursday but I was booked in to have kidney stones removed on the Friday and spent the day in hospital.

"But we can start celebrating this week. Not having to go to work is fantastic. I think it's every working man's dream to take off those overalls and leave work."

Freda always puts five lines on and when she checked she thought she had only won £10.

Derrick said: "I had a look at it and said, 'it's more than a tenner, you've got the jackpot'. It was totally unreal.

"Freda was really calm and wanted to make sure she got her £10 as well but I was all over the place - I only had about two hours sleep that night."

Freda, 45, a care home warden, said: "I play every week and always use the same numbers so it's a good job I didn't change them this time. We're just so overwhelmed."

The lucky ticket was bought by Freda at the ASDA supermarket in Benton, North Tyneside, on the morning of the August 28 draw.

Their success makes Derrick the latest Swan Hunters worker to win big on the Lotto after a five-man syndicate scooped £3.2m a year ago.

But the couple didn't discover they had won until they got home from a night out.

Freda said: "I was taking my son shopping when I got the ticket because he doesn't have a car.

"On the night we had been for a few drinks then picked up a Chinese take-away on the way home.

"It was about half-ten when I told Derrick to stick the Teletext on to check the numbers.

"We didn't know what to do - I was sitting there with my food on my knee and although I was shocked I was really calm about it."

But the couple had to put the champagne on ice and still haven't celebrated their win.

And the couple say they are still not sure what to spend their fortune on. Freda said: "We've always wanted a bungalow to live in and we want to find one in the North East.

"Other than that I haven't even thought about it. We've got a holiday booked in a couple of week's time and will think about it then.

"All our family are here and we want to make sure they're looked after. Everyone tells us they know what they would spend their money on but when you win your mind goes blank."

Derrick and Freda have had to share their fortune with three other winners. But the couple say their slice of the £5m prize-fund is more than enough.