A syndicate of 15 workers from Wantage was celebrating today after striking lucky in Saturday's £25m National Lottery superdraw.

The workers, whose names were being revealed later today, scooped £3,125,000 between them.

They were among eight ticketholders who picked the winning numbers of 7, 9, 17, 22, 38 and 49. The bonus ball was 47.

The Wantage workers were due to receive their cheque at a ceremony in Birmingham.

They learned of their big win during Saturday's televised lottery show, hosted by Dale Winton.

Organisers Camelot reported that nearly £69m was spent on the draw. But the multiple winners meant that National Lottery history was not made - one winner would have meant the largest single win in the four years of the competition.

Camelot said 22 people matched five balls and the bonus ball to win £120,267 each and 1,433 matched five balls to win £1,153.

Another 80,371 ticket-holders had four of the lucky numbers to win £45 and 1,434,840 won £10 with three matching numbers.

The lottery has raised more than £6 billion for national and local charitable projects.

*Camelot could lose its licence to run the Lottery after the Government indicated it wanted a non-profit making operator to do the job. Culture Secretary Chris Smith said yesterday that whoever could raise the most for good causes would win the licence when it came up for renewal in 2001.

A spokesman for Virgin boss Richard Branson, whose charitable consortium lost to Camelot last time, hinted he could submit another bid.

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