A GROUP of hospital workers from York have scooped £774,505 on the National Lottery.

The cash has been shared by 11 workers who are thought to work in the maintenance department at Stockton Hall Hospital. They each won about £70,500.

Craig Bailey, 33, chef at the Fox Inn in Stockton-on-the-Forest, is the stepson of one of the winners.

He said: "My step-dad went with the others to pick up his cheque on Tuesday and they were out celebrating in town on Wednesday.

"We're all really excited because they're good, hard-working guys.

"I've no idea what any of them are planning to spend the money on, but I know my step-dad will carry on working.

"I think they're overcoming the shock of winning before they start planning foreign holidays."

The syndicate shared their cash with 11 other winning ticket holders in last Saturday's £8.5m lotto jackpot draw.

The shocked workers were amazed when their numbers - 6, 13, 17, 23, 32, and 43 - came up.

Shopkeeper Tom Loose, who runs the village stores, said: "There have been a lot of jokes going round.

"People are saying I wonder how long it will take them to drink all that.

"But to be honest people are just happy to have some good news to talk about."

Stockton Hall Hospital is a privately-run medium secure mental hospital which is set in grounds on the edge of Stockton-on-the-Forest.

One of the winners told the Evening Press: "It is a lot of money to us. We're all amazed we've won.

"There are 11 of us altogether and we were out celebrating the other night.

"It's good news for our families but we've decided that we want to keep things private because of the place we work at.

"I don't know how I'm spending my money yet but I will be sharing some with my relatives.

"I think we all plan to carry on working because it's not enough for us to retire on."

A spokesman said the hospital, which is completely independent, did not want to make any comment.

The good news follows a £4 million win by Acomb pensioners Diane and Kevin Downing in April.

The generous couple, who had previously survived on a meagre £125 a week have been sharing the cash with their two sons.

:: Previous Lotto winners

A Lotto syndicate at the Tesco store in Driffield, East Yorkshire, won £18 million in June this year.

York grandmother Diane Downing bought a Harley Davidson motorbike for her husband, Kevin, and a new VW Golf for herself after winning £3,964,330 from a £12 million Lotto double rollover pot in April this year.

In 1998 nursery nurse Debbie Sawyer won £44,000 on her wedding day.

One York winner, Kenny Southwell, from Fulford, landed the jackpot in the first draw in 1994, scooping more than £800,000.

Cynthia Taylor, 64, of Borough-bridge, scooped £3,272,499 in 1997, prompting her and her late husband, Basil, to quit their jobs at Dishforth airfield. She now lives in a four-bedroom home in Langthorpe.

Other local winners include:

A 13-strong syndicate from The 10 O'Clock Shop in Poppleton Road, York, who each received more than £167,000 after matching six numbers in October 1997.

A three-strong syndicate from the Groves Working Men's Club in Penley's Grove Street, York, won £76,000 after matching five numbers and the bonus ball in December 2001.

Colin and Jackie Darbyshire, formerly of Sherburn-in-Elmet, scooped £1.5 million in March 2002.

Married couple Alex and John Dyer, stewards of the Knaresborough Working Men's Club, won nearly £6 million in a Lotto Extra draw in December 2003.

Nine workers at Europower Hydraulics in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, shared more than £7 million when they picked the winning numbers in a double rollover draw in March 2004.

Updated: 10:27 Saturday, September 03, 2005