Lottery scratchcard winners thank cat for £1m prize Published duration 13 August 2019

media caption 'He had to have ham for his tea'. Andrew Hancock bought a £1m scratchcard - but forgot to buy food for his cat

A couple who got their claws on a £1m lottery prize have thanked their pet cat for the win.

Andrew Hancock bought the winning scratchcard when he took his wife Paula's car to a local petrol station to buy food for six-year-old Shortcake.

In his excitement, Mr Hancock forgot to pick up some grub for the ginger tom - who ended up dining on ham.

"If it wasn't for Shortcake, we wouldn't be millionaires," said Mr Hancock.

Asked if the pet, nicknamed "Shorty", had brought them much luck before, Mr Hancock said: "Not particularly. He's just a normal cat."

The couple, who live near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, joked that Shortcake "does like a fight", and "keeps everybody up at night".

But he will no doubt be feline fine after his owners promised to upgrade his usual cat food.

image copyright Joe Giddens/PA Wire image caption In the lap of luxury: The couple have pledged to upgrade Shortcake's usual food, while they content themselves with a trip to Australia

Shorty appeared to be taking everything in his stride as he was photographed during a press call at The Pumping House, in Ollerton, on Tuesday.

So far, the only purchase the couple - who run a catering business together - have made is a new phone for their 12-year-old son Xavier.

They said they plan to take some time off and go travelling, starting with a trip to Australia.

image copyright Joe Giddens/PA Wire image caption It could be mew: Shorty's owners have claws for celebration

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