A JERSEY couple are one million pounds richer today, but instead of popping champagne corks in the Island, they are celebrating their win in St Malo.

After the draw of the Jersey Hospice Million Pound Lottery was announced on the terrace at The Grand last night, the couple telephoned from France to say that they had the winning ticket but could not join the party.

A big crowd of excited Islanders had come along in the hope of being among the lucky winners.

The all-important number for the top prize of £1m is 2829, but there was some confusion over the last digit, drawn by Anita Dobson, which was originally thought to be a six.

The numbers were also drawn by Esther Rantzen OBE, Brian de Ste Croix, one of the winners from last year, Wendy Leedham, head of personal banking for Lloyds TSB, and Miss Battle of Flowers 2008, Holly Fraser.

The winning numbers for the other prizes were 4272 for £100,000, 3505 for £75,000, 5118 for £50,000, 4082 for £25,000 and five amounts of £10,000 with the winning numbers 1352, 3718, 1564, 1952 and 4361.