12:20pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Chris Gee
A Chorley bus driver said he wouldn't be quitting his job despite winning £2.3million on the lottery.
Kevin Halstead, who lives in the town with partner Josie and works for Stagecoach, said: "I don't want to pack my job in.
"I asked my boss for time off, a month maybe two, but I don't want to cut myself off from my friends and I really enjoy my job. Maybe I will go part-time."
Kevin was visiting his mother Joyce, 68, when he learned that all his luck had arrived together on Saturday.
His first reaction was to hug her and ask: "Do you want a bungalow?"
The 46-year-old later discovered he'd won £2,302,668, a half share in Saturday's Lotto jackpot.
He said: "My first three numbers are for my daughter's birthday, mine and my partner Josie Jones. The rest I just made up."
Kevin had only finalised his divorce from former wife Helen, weeks before he bought the winning ticket.
However, he denied this was likely to cause any problems.
"We separated 13 years ago," he said.
"Josie and I have been together 11 years but the divorce only went through in the past few months.
"She is a very good friend.
"I go round and have cups of tea with her and her new partner.
"We've had a giggle about that this morning."
Kevin, who has worked at the wheel of the 125 bus between Bolton and Preston for the last 17 years, declined to say whether he would be handing any cash over to his ex-wife, but said that he was looking forward to taking care of family and friends financially.
He said one of his first purchases would be a pony and horsebox for his daughter Jessica, 14.
Kevin's partner Josie, a 43-year-old care worker, has never been on a foreign holiday.
He said he would buy her a passport so he could whisk her away.
Liverpool FC fan Kevin celebrated his win by visiting Anfield for Monday night's victory against Portsmouth and said he would now buy a season ticket and that his dream was to meet the players.
Prior to the win, Kevin was doing up the rented home he shares with Josie, but said he now wanted his own home, closer to his mother in the village of Eccleston.
And as for what to drive when not at the wheel of a double decker, Kevin said he was 'not one for a fancy Ferrari or anything like that'.
"I've got a Renault Laguna," he said.
"It's not brand new but has got a half leather interior and is really tidy.
"I traded my old one on the Government scrappage scheme."
Paul Wainwright, operations manager for Stagecoach, Chorley, said: "I am pleased that Kevin has won the lottery, as are all the staff at Chorley.
"We're also delighted that he has decided to stay on with Stagecoach, as Kevin has been an excellent member of staff during the 17 years he has worked at the depot."
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