IT may be considered unlucky for some but number 13 was quite the opposite for a group of Hereford colleagues who scooped £224,225 in the EuroMillions draw.

The 13-strong syndicate of furniture makers from I and JL Brown Antiques are set to receive more than £17,000 each.

The win comes less than a month after Hereford's Matt Myles took home £1million in the EuroMillions raffle.

Jeremy Norledge, aged 50, syndicate leader of ‘The Lucky 13,’ which has been playing EuroMillions for 18 months, was at Edgar Street on Monday celebrating with eight fellow Hereford fans from the syndicate.

He said: “We all follow Hereford United and go to the games whenever we can and Neil is a season ticket holder and goes every week.

“We can’t believe that we’ve won. I usually leave it a couple of days before checking our numbers, but was bored on Saturday morning, so checked online.

"I just couldn’t believe it – I asked my partner Sue to double check before I rang Clive Hooper, who is in the syndicate too. Then it was a case of ringing around the other syndicate members to let them know.

"They really were the best calls I’ve ever had to make.”

Father-of-three Jeremy and partner Sue will treat themselves to a new dishwasher as well as helping Jeremy’s 22-year-old daughter, Rachel, pay for her upcoming wedding.

Other members of ‘The Lucky 13’ are planning to splash out on a variety of treats including a car, a state of the art TV and greenhouse.

French polisher Jeremy, who has worked with other members of the syndicate for more than 20 years, added: “I always buy four weeks’ worth of lucky dip tickets and then a separate one for the fifth week, which was this week – so glad I did as my special trip was definitely worth it.”

The syndicate’s winning numbers were 4, 30, 31, 38 and 42 and the winning ticket was bought from The Copper Kettle newsagents on Aylestone Hill in Hereford.