HE HAD always considered himself unlucky - and having been born on Friday the 13th it is hard to blame him.

Especially since his wife's birthday is Halloween and his son's April Fool's Day.

But that all changed when retired Philip Siddle scooped £5,000 worth of holiday vouchers on a Lottery scratchcard game - and is off to Barbados with his family.

Mr Siddle won the jackpot in the National Lottery's Holiday Bonanza game.

It came after a double stroke of good luck. He had won £2 on a scratchcard and decided to try his luck again by cashing in his winnings and buying another, winning the vouchers.

Mr Siddle, from Ramsbottom, said: "When I scratched off the card, I realised that I had matched three cameras. I quickly read the back of the card to check that it definitely did mean we had won the jackpot holiday prize. I really couldn't believe it, and neither could the family."

He and his wife, Susan, an orthopaedic nurse, son Craig and his partner Laura, aged 18, will be leaving for the Caribbean at the end of April, next year.

Mr Siddle said: "With me being born on Friday 13, Susan's birthday falling on Halloween and Craig's on April Fool's Day, we thought luck was against us, but it just goes to show you never can tell."