/ 20 December 2004

A R200-million Christmas present

A butcher from suburban Bordeaux in south-western France is the sole winner of Europe’s latest lottery jackpot and is to pocket the hefty sum of €26,2-million (about R200-million), French lottery officials said on Sunday.

It was the second-highest EuroMillions jackpot in France following the record of €33,8-million won by an anonymous couple of retirees and their son in May.

The butcher from Begles, near Bordeaux, won Friday’s jackpot and was to travel to Paris this week to receive his cheque.

The EuroMillions lottery was launched in February of this year by the national lottery companies of Britain, France and Spain.

It was expanded in October to include Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland. — Sapa-AFP