German woman carried £28m lottery ticket in purse for weeks without knowing

A woman in Germany carried a winning lottery ticket around in her purse for weeks without realising it was worth almost €33 million (£28 million).

The 45-year-old from Lower Franconia was the sole winner of a draw on June 9, having correctly guessed seven fields on a German lottery ticket, Lotto Bayern said. The company said the amount is the second-highest it's ever paid out in its 75-year history.

It quoted the woman, who has not been named, as saying: “I still get dizzy at the thought that I carelessly carried almost €33 million around in my purse for several weeks.”

She only discovered her good fortune when she played the lottery once again.

The mother-of-one had picked random numbers on the €1.20 (£1) lottery ticket and does not plan to play again, saying the win was “more than enough for my husband, my daughter and me".

She said she planned to use her lucky windfall to live a healthy life and do more for the environment.

“By this I mean healthy eating, more time for exercise in the fresh air and responsible treatment of our environment," she explained

"We are also very much looking forward to soon being able to build our own energy-saving and resource-saving house with a natural garden. "

She added that she wishes other lottery players "as much luck as [she] had".