A Birmingham man is celebrating an incredible start to 2026 after scooping £250,000 on a National Lottery scratchcard during the festive period.
Anthony Brayson, 38, could not quite believe his eyes when he scratched off the winning Silver Scratchcard and saw the “life-changing” sum staring back at him.
“I had to double-check it over and over again,” Mr Brayson said.
“In fact, I immediately rang my mum to tell her the news, and when she didn’t believe me I had to get my dad to come over and check it as I honestly thought I must have read it wrong!”
The newly-appointed retail manager needed his father to confirm what he was seeing before the National Lottery officially verified his quarter-million-pound prize.
The win came at a time when everything seemed to be falling into place for the 38-year-old.
He had just landed a new job as a retail manager and, for the first time in years, actually got to enjoy Christmas rather than working through it.
“It was the first proper Christmas break I’ve had in a long time,” he said.
“Working in the retail industry means Christmas is always extra busy.
The win came at a time when everything seemed to be falling into place for the 38-year-old
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“This year I finally had time to relax, spend time with family, and just enjoy the season instead of working through it. That alone felt like a win.”
The lucky moment happened when Mr Brayson was heading to his local Tesco for lunch.
He remembered a couple of winning scratchcards sitting on his microwave that needed cashing in, so he used those winnings to buy the £2 Silver Scratchcard that would change his life.
With the money now confirmed, Mr Brayson’s thoughts have turned firmly to his loved ones.
Clearing the remaining balance on his mother’s mortgage sits right at the top of his priorities.
“I want to pay off the rest of my mum’s mortgage – that’s really important to me,” he explained.
“Knowing she’ll have that weight lifted is one of the best parts of this win.”
He is also been treating his parents to lovely meals out since the big win, something that clearly means the world to him after everything they’ve done for him over the years.
The house he bought from his late grandmother a few years back is also getting some much-needed attention, with a loft conversion and kitchen renovation.
Beyond the home improvements, the 38-year-old has some exciting travel plans in the works.
A dream trip to California with his parents is on the horizon, something the family has always wanted to do together.
He is also hoping to visit friends who have relocated to Australia.
The 38-year-old said: “My parents mean everything to me, and we’ve always wanted to go to California, so I’m hoping to make that happen for them.
The lucky moment happened when Mr Brayson was heading to his local Tesco for lunch
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PA“I am also looking forward to reuniting with one of my oldest friends who moved to Australia 11 years ago.
“The win is really allowing me to do all the things I’ve been wanting to do for years!”
Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: “Anthony’s story is a brilliant example of how a National Lottery win can come at just the right moment.
“After working hard for many years and securing a new job that he is passionate about, this £250,000 prize gives him the chance to really enjoy life and treat those closest to him. It’s wonderful to see him using his win to support his family and look ahead to an exciting future.”