A National Lottery winner appeared to receive a final message from his late father from beyond the grave before pocketing a £1million prize.

Darren McGuire, who is finally planning to tie the knot with his partner of 20 years, believes the date of his father's birth and death can help explain his shock victory.

Mr McGuire said: Darren “We all miss my Dad so much, and that’s why I have numbers relating to him that I enter into Lotto draws.

"His date of birth (22.03.48) and the date of his passing (21.09.11) made us millionaires – thank you Dad!

“But that’s not the only thing that seemed somehow to point towards us winning.

"The very morning of the draw, two rose bushes in our garden that have done absolutely nothing for over four years, suddenly bloomed to produce a perfect red rose.

"To me, it was a sign from Dad that this was the day and it certainly was, it’s mad!”

However, Mr McGuire also admitted that the decision to spend the cash on his wedding is around two decades in the making.

The National Lottery winners have vowed to tie the knot after 20 years as a couple

“We were going to get married years ago, then Laura fell pregnant and we moved house.

"I also regularly work seven days a week as a gas engineer for a housing association in Bolton – a job I love – so with all that we never got around to tying the knot.

"However, with this win under our belts we’re hoping to get married in real style sometime soon.”

Mr McGuire became aware of his winning ticket while holidaying with his family in Cornwall.

National Lottery sign outside a corner shop

He added: “We’ve been together for 20 years and were going to get married years ago, then Laura fell pregnant and then we moved house.

"I also regularly work seven days a week as a gas engineer for a housing association – a job I love – so with all that we never got around to tying the knot.

“However, with this win under our belts I may look to adjust my work-life balance a bit and we might well have the time and the money to get married in real style sometime soon.”

Ms Thwaites added: “Family is the most important thing, as it was to Darren’s late dad, and having Darren at home with us more of the time will be special – that’s what winning will do for us.

The National Lottery winner received a message from beyond the grave before winning £1million

"But Darren is one of life’s grafters so, in time, he may look to set up his own business.

"I love where I currently work part time as a receptionist at a local company, but I am looking forward to supporting Darren on this when the time is right.”

However, McGuire's children also hope to cash in on his windfall.

“One has asked for a PlayStation 5 and the other fancies going on a shopping spree for clothes and trainers," Thwaites said.

Darren McGuire, who is finally planning to tie the knot with his partner of 20 years, believes the date of his father's birth and death can help explain his shock victory

"We’ll see what we can do!"

However, in the short-term, Mr McGuire is planning on a family holiday to Spain.

The father-of-two said: “Time abroad – just a week in Spain – will allow us all to let it fully hit us what an amazing thing has happened.

"We’ll be able to make some plans and decisions about the future."