Oily rags to huge riches for car mechanic

Neil Trotter, from Coulsdon, south London, plans to upgrade his oil-stained Ford Focus with some flashier cars, including a McLaren.

But first on the shopping list is a new house, with ample garage space.

The 41-year-old hot rod racer, who runs a repair garage in Mitcham, south London, called Chameleon Coachworks, became the National Lottery’s fourth biggest winner on Friday night.

The motor racing fanatic now plans to hang up his car mechanic’s overalls and follow his passion.

Mr Trotter expects some people might joke about his surname and him becoming a millionaire. “Me and my dad thought we’d heard all the Only Fools And Horses jokes but I can see this is going to run and run,” he said. “Still, being Trotters, we were always going to be millionaires one day.”

Mr Trotter was so confident he would win a prize that he told staff at his father’s office last Friday lunchtime that “this time tomorrow” he would be a multimillionaire.

He learned he was the single ticket-holder to scoop the massive jackpot on Friday night at around 10.30pm.

Mr Trotter and Nicky Ottaway, 33, his partner of eight years, had a restless night before calling Camelot first thing on Saturday.