A group of seven nurses from a north Wales hospital have won around �1m on the National Lottery after one of their colleagues started the draw on Saturday night.

Their lucky numbers came up after a member of staff from the Wrexham Maelor Hospital appeared on the live television programme.

It is not the first win for hospital staff

Julie Hinchcliffe was invited on the show after an appeal for a cancer unit at the hospital was awarded lottery money.

Before starting the balls rolling Mrs Hinchcliffe had given a good luck message to staff at the hospital.

Mrs Hinchcliffe was representing the Shooting Star appeal which has been given �1.4m from the lottery's New Opportunity Fund.

The winning nurses will share �957,667 and were one of six jackpot ticket holders in Saturday nights draw.

We are very pleased for all staff concerned

Andy Scotson

Andy Scotson from the hospital said the connection is a "phenomenal coincidence."

He added:"We're very pleased for all staff concerned."

This is not the first time members of the 2,000 workforce have hit the lottery's jackpot.

Two years ago eight night shift nurses won a total of �8.1m - they had the only winning ticket and received just over �1m each.

Most of the women had worked together for up to 30 years and at the time had no plans to give up work.

Feet up

Speaking after her win in 1999 auxiliary nurse Glenys Churchill, 61, of Penycae, near Wrexham, said she was going to put her feet up, after previously choosing not to retire at 60.

"I don't know what the others are going to do, but I should have retired last year and I decided to keep going until I was 65, which is just as well otherwise I would not have been in the syndicate.

"But now I'm going to put my feet up. I think some of the younger ones may stay on because we are a very dedicated team."

The seven nurses who have won the money following Saturday's draw are trying to keep their identities secret and its not yet known whether they will return back to the wards or not.