Lucky trucker's £2.5m lottery cheque

Tony Freeman plans to retire at Christmas

A Black Country lorry driver has collected a £2.5m lottery jackpot at Aston Villa Football Club.

Tony Freeman, 56, from Oldbury, was presented with his cheque on Tuesday by Villa defender Steve Staunton.

He said he plans to spend some of his winnings on a holiday to Canada to visit his brother.

The lifelong Aston Villa fan said he also intends to swap his three-bedroom semi in Bright Road, Oldbury, and buy a new car.

Mr Freeman told the BBC's Midlands Today programme: "I couldn't believe it. I had to ring my sons in Kidderminster and tell them that I'd won."

Asked if he planned to use any of his winnings to help out Villa's new manager in the transfer market, Mr Freeman said: "I haven't got enough money for David O'Leary. He'll have to see Doug about that."

Mr Freeman has continued working at S Jones Transport Services in Aldridge since his win on 14 June, although he said he planned to retire at Christmas.