EuroMillions winners - the Sturt family

The Sturt Family from Dorking are now fifth place in the National Lottery Rich List. The four members of the family syndicate won half of the EuroMillions jackpot in the draw on Friday 15th January, to bank a stunning £26,151,124.20.

Father George, 75, and his three children Colin, Gary and Teresa make up the syndicate, but with a further eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren the win will transform the entire family's life.

George, who buys the family's ticket every week, first discovered the win on Saturday morning. He said: "I woke up and had a bit of a funny feeling - I always check the ticket at the shop, but decided to bring up the results on Teletext. I could see I had all of the numbers and knew it must be quite big, but wasn't sure how much so I called my daughter to come up to the house."

Teresa checked the ticket and was soon sat in a state of shock at the size of the win. She said: "When you dream of winning you think you'd scream but you just stare at each other and are completely gob smacked - initially you don't want to believe it in case it isn't true." George called his sons, Colin and Gary, who after a little persuasion that it wasn't all a wind up joined their father and sister.

The family are convinced the win is a gift from their wife and mother Maureen, who sadly passed away last July. George said: "She loved the children and she will be so happy that they are all taken care of. She will have a big grin on her face." Teresa said: "She is still part of our lives everyday and we were all really close to her. All of my children immediately said it was a sign - it was Nanny."

George plans to support a number of local charities with his win, who have helped the family across the years, but his biggest pleasure will come from seeing his family secure. He said: "It is for the kids really. They have had tough times and to know that the whole family will benefit from the win is very satisfying. It will make such a difference and will help in so many ways."

Colin, who is married to Julie, and have six children between them, are planning to set all of their children up with property, and the builder expects to spend the next few years working on all of their houses. He said: "To give them the security of a roof over their heads is just great. I will expect them all to work - we are from a hard working family and I've no doubt the family building firm will continue - but it will certainly make a big difference to their start in life." He will also keep a promise he made to his wife to take her to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup in 2011, although he now plans to fly First Class.

Gary, who is married to Chris, and has 23 year old twin sons, is still putting together his spending plans but already has a few ideas, he said: "Mortgages will be paid off and new cars will be bought. I have no idea about work - I will carry on doing something, but what I'll do I don't know. I will treat myself to a Harley Davidson which has been a life long dream." Chris is a Stoke City FC season ticket holder and already has plans to ease her fortnightly trip up to watch home games by taking a helicopter instead of driving.

Teresa is a full time mum to one daughter and three sons and knows exactly what her first purchase will be. She said: "We have been in a rented house for a number of years which isn't quite big enough anymore. Our dream has always been to have our own house with a garden and we can now make that come true. That will make the biggest difference to our lives."