IT proved to be a red letter day for Blackburn postal worker Clare Wearden when she bought an instant lottery ticket during her lunch hour.

Clare, 22, works as a clerk at Furthergate Post Office -- the same place from which she purchased the ticket.

And, as a regular buyer of instant tickets she could barely believe her eyes when she scratched off the panel to reveal the winning symbol.

Now Clare can turn up to work in her prize -- a new Vauxhall Astra Coupe -- and she has also won £750 spending money.

Clare said: "I was really surprised when I discovered I'd struck gold. I immediately told my boss and asked him to check my ticket.

"I even asked the person who works on the National Lottery kiosk in the Post Office to double check.

"She verified the ticket and that's when I was finally convinced that I'd

won.

"It certainly caused quite a stir at work in the afternoon."