A HAIRDRESSER from Talgarth became stranded when his car broke down on his way to claim his £1 million EuroMillions win from Camelot’s ‘Winners’ Lounge’ in Watford.

And time was also of the essence when winner Richard Davies, who has owned Chop and Change salon in Talgarth for 14 years, dashed out to buy his EuroMillions ticket with just four minutes to spare before the draw closed on Friday, June 1.

Now Richard, 41, says one of his first purchases with his winnings will be premium AA membership.

Second on his list of priorities will be splashing out on a holiday – the first he and partner Faye Stevenson have taken in their 10 years as a couple.

Nurse Faye and Richard both have hectic work schedules and until now have struggled to find the time to get away together.

Richard won his “life-changing” payout after matching one of that night’s EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker codes.

He said: “I had forgotten to buy my ticket and, as ever, Friday had been frantic in the salon!

“I dashed out to the Co-Op round the corner and went back there to check my numbers the following Wednesday.

“I waited in quite a long queue and was told they were unable to pay out such a large amount. I rang Faye straight away and we were both in shock but I had a day full of appointments in the salon.

“As soon as I had a spare moment, I rang Camelot and was calmly taken through the winning process – I had to cut the call short as my client’s colour was ready and needed to be washed off!”

Winners have the option to travel to Camelot’s Winners’ Lounge in Watford to claim their prize in person, and as it was Faye’s 36th birthday last Tuesday (June 12), they made the journey to the Winners’ Lounge then.

Richard said: “We made it as far as Membury Services on the M4 before the car broke down and we were a bit panicked we would miss our appointment.

“Faye rang the AA, and after hearing our story, they prioritised our callout and we arrived at the Camelot offices with five minutes to spare!

“We can’t believe our luck at all. I’m planning on carrying on at my salon but it will be great to start planning how to treat ourselves. We can’t believe our luck, really, neither can any of my clients!”

Richard bought his winning ticket at Talgarth Co-Op on the Square.

The National Lottery changes the lives of winners like Richard and Faye as well as communities across the UK – players raise, on average, over £30m for National Lottery-funded projects every week.

For more information on National Lottery funding visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.