WHEN Frances May and Viv Butcher met two years ago, they never dreamt their friendship would change their lives.But the pals, from Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, are now counting their lucky stars after scooping more than £150,000 on the National Lottery.

WHEN Frances May and Viv Butcher met two years ago, they never dreamt their friendship would change their lives.

But the pals, from Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, are now counting their lucky stars after scooping more than £150,000 on the National Lottery.

Ms May and Mrs Butcher, who have been playing the Lotto together every week since 2004, last night described their win as a “ray of sunshine”, which they said could not have come at a better time.

“We were both feeling quite down. I've been off work since March with a damaged eye and I was seriously thinking I might have to sell my house. Winning has changed everything - a cloud has lifted and the world seems a much sunnier place,” said Ms May.

“Now I can put the house right and give the garden a proper make-over too which is all very exciting.”

After checking their numbers - the same ones they have used since they started playing the national gambling game - against those drawn during Wednesday's Lotto game, the two friends first thought they had won a modest £3,000.

But after visiting a nearby shop to verify their win, the friends discovered they had in fact netted £153,106 after matching five of their randomly chosen numbers as well as the bonus ball.

“I got a phonecall from Viv to say she thought we had won £3,000 or thereabouts on Lotto so we headed off to Mace in Elmswell where we bought the ticket, and then to the post office in Thurston to check the actual amount,” said Ms May, 51, who is also planning to treat herself to a dream safari holiday.

“The people in the post office were really nice and checked the ticket for us before suggesting that we both sit down, which I thought was funny. It was then that they broke the news we had won just over £150,000 - that is a fortune to Viv and me. I just couldn't take it in and I still can't. I feel numb and very, very happy. This has totally changed my life.”

Mrs Butcher, 52, said she plans to use her winnings to restyle her house, and has been busy dreaming of a brand new luxury kitchen. She also wants to treat her husband, Keith, to a new motorbike.

“It would make his day and I guess if I get a new kitchen he should get a gilt-edged prize of his very own,” she said. “It seems only fair and it's lovely I can spoil him in this way.”

lisa.cleverdon@eadt.co.uk