Drivers in £38m Euromillions syndicate reveal how they took in news of their good fortune with a cup of tea!

The syndicate of 12 - now former - bus drivers from Corby who won £38m in the Euromillions draw today revealed that they first took in news of their success by drinking cups of tea.

The men all quit their jobs as soon as it was confirmed they had indeed bought the winning ticket. They will each be getting £3.1m.

While their good fortune means luxury cars and a jetset lifestyle beckons it has sparked a staffing crisis for their former employers at the Stagecoach bus company in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Syndicate leader Chris Smith today said they were looking forward to spending the money on friends and relatives adding that “times have been tough” prior to the £38m win as the drivers had been hit with reduced working hours.

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“We were facing up to shifts being cut which can really hit you in the pocket,” he said. “This win means so much and is life-changing for everybody - people can live their dreams and help out their families.  This couldn’t have happened to a better bunch of blokes.  We are all friends as well as colleagues and I am happy that we have all won together.”

He also revealed how the all-male group gathered at his house immediately after Saturday’s draw in disbelief.

“By 1am my house was full of bus drivers and their partners all drinking tea,” he said. “It wasn’t really a party - just everyone sat there not wanting to believe it until it was confirmed, talking about what we would do with the money.

"It wasn’t until the early hours that we realised it was just one winning ticket.”

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However it also emerged today that fellow driver Hazel Loveday, 36, lost out on a share of the fortune after pulling out of the syndicate just six months ago because she couldn’t afford the £2 weekly contribution.

The 'Daily Mail' reported that she heard news of the syndicate's good fortune while in hospital, after collapsing at work in an unrelated incident.

The Corby syndicate continues an impressive streak of Euromillions luck for UK players, with four separate multi-million scoops this year. A £22m winner chose to go anonymous earlier this month, just a week after another UK ticket holder picked up £46.4m.

These wins followed Cassey Carrington and Matt Topham’s £45m jackpot in February, two weeks after Nottinghamshire couple Gareth and Catherine Bull picked up £41m.

Although impressive, these jackpots pale in comparison to Britain’s biggest ever lottery winners, Colin and Chris Weir, who took home more than £161m last July.