Some families may be in receipt of a timely cash injection following tonight's EuroMillions draw.
It was earlier estimated that winners would have to share the spoils of an £11.7 million jackpot.
So best of luck to everyone who played.
The numbers you needed to be a winner were 8, 9, 19, 25 and 49 and the two Lucky Stars were 2 and 10.
GRIMSBY Town will be looking to give their fans an extra Christmas present with a Boxing Day win at Macclesfield (3pm).
The Mariners travel to Moss Rose looking to become the first team to beat the second-placed Silkmen on their own patch this season.
Four points separate Town from their hosts, but Paul Hurst's men do have a game in hand.
A healthy crowd of travelling fans are expected to make the journey to Cheshire, but don't worry if you can't make it to the match - you can still follow the action with our live and interactive Big Match Live coverage from 3pm.
TURKEY TROT: Grimsby Town players Willie Duff, Duncan Welbourne, John Stainsbury, Keith Jobling and Ron Cockerill collect their Christmas turkeys from Fred Wright's butchers in Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, in December 1959.
AWARD-winning blogger Too Good To Go Down takes a look at how Grimsby Town are placed ahead of a crucial festive period...
WITH just over half of the season gone, and Grimsby Town currently occupying a Play-Off place, on paper things are looking rosy.
But with tough games against Macclesfield, Lincoln and Barnet coming up in the next few days, Town's promotion charge could pick up steam – or even be derailed – before the year is out.
With the best defensive record in the league and some of the best away form in the Conference, there's certainly a lot to shout about.
Lenell John-Lewis has answered his critics in perfect fashion by netting 14 times already this campaign, answering fans' calls for Paul Hurst to go out and buy a 20 goal-a-season striker.
The big frontman has been much maligned by some, but he's certainly winning over 'the naysayers' with a string of impressive performances and some cracking strikes – the scruffy goals, such as the opener against Forest Green, have been mixed in with brilliant finishes such as the volley at Torquay.
No wonder comedian Lloyd Griffith was so pleased to see Lenny under his Christmas tree in the Mariners' fantastic John Lewis spoof video!
The August Bank Holiday double header was certainly a highlight as the Mariners notched 13 goals in the space of three days against hapless Gateshead and hopeless Alfreton.
Although Town haven't been as prolific since – they haven't scored more than three in a game since the 6-1 and 7-0 wins – they've still been in impressive form.
However, the last two seasons have seen the Mariners stutter in January and February, and their form tends to dip after a New Year's Day home draw against Lincoln.
Hopefully the spell will be broken this year as the Mariners play their Lincolnshire rivals on Sunday, rather than January 1!
Some fans will no doubt blame the FA Trophy if results take a turn for the worst, and I must admit that I'd forego a trip to Wembley if it meant we'd be guaranteed promotion back to League Two.
I'm sure it's no surprise that several of Town's promotion rivals, Barnet included, surprisingly lost their FA Trophy matches earlier this month.
The key to Grimsby Town's promotion ambitions this year? John-Lewis needs to keep banging in the goals and hope that someone else can step up to the plate in case he goes through a lean spell.
Shaun Pearson and Toto Nsiala need to avoid lengthy suspensions and injuries, with Carl Magnay and Aswad Thomas maintaining their form to help Town keep their fantastic defensive record.
The Mariners are more than capable of reaching the Play-Offs – but they will need to make it third time lucky if they are to bring the glory days back to Blundell Park.
What do you think? Comment on this story here....now!
GRIMSBY Town boss Paul Hurst has signalled his desire to keep hold of versatile utility man Danny Parslow.
The 29-year-old is currently on a loan deal from York City that is due to expire next month, however Hurst says that he's had tentative discussions with Minstermen boss Russ Wilcox about extending his stay in Cleethorpes.
The Welshman is in his second spell with the Mariners having already enjoyed a month-long stay earlier in the season.
He's set to make his 15th appearance for the club in the Boxing Day clash at Macclesfield Town, having impressed Hurst in a variety of positions.
And it's that versatility – and consistency – which is the reason behind Hurst's desire keep hold of him for longer.
He told the Telegraph: "Myself and Russ have had a quick conversation about extending Danny's stay and it's something I'm obviously interested in doing.
"We'll see what next week brings and see if we can get that done.
"At times, we've had to change the back four around through injuries and suspension and to have the likes of Danny and Carl Magnay, who can play in so many different positions has been a huge help to us.
"I know Danny still, to a degree, sees himself as a centre half, but he can also play in holding midfield or either full-back role with no problem so he's a massive help to me.
"He's also no trouble at all. He's one of those players who comes in, does his job with no fuss and I don't have to worry one iota in terms of what he's doing away from here – he's a true professional.
"I know that, if I pick him, he will do a good job for us in any position. Without playing down what he does, he's steady and, as a manager, you're looking to get a number of players in your squad who are steady and then one or two who are a bit up and down.
"But I know what I'm going to get from Danny and that's consistency and while words like steady and consistent might sound a bit boring and understated, for me as a manager, I'll gladly take that week-in, week-out."
A HUGE crowd is expected for Market Rasen Racecourse's annual Boxing Day meeting.
The event regularly attracts 9,000 festive race-goers.
Gates open at 10am, with the first race off at 12.25pm. The last race is at 3.20pm.
The big race of the day is the Clugston Lincolnshire National at 2.10pm.
Humberside Police say that two people who were carried into ambulances on stretchers, after an accident on Grimsby's Victoria Street, have been released from hospital following treatment.
They received a call after 7pm last night about a collision near to the Dreams store, involving a Fiat 500 and a Skoda Yeti.
The road was temporarily closed to enable recovery of the vehicles.
A spokesman for the force said: "Two people sustained minor injuries, received hospital treatment and have since been released from hospital."
VETERAN swimmer Pete Winchester is gearing up for his 55th consecutive Christmas Day dip – less than two months after undergoing a double heart bypass operation.
Pete, 73, who swam the Humber no fewer than 70 times, feared he would not be able to swim again after going under the knife on November 4.
He has been out of the water since March when he was diagnosed with angina. But his specialist has now given him the all-clear to take part in the annual festive fundraiser.
Pete and fellow members of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Yacht Club will be diving into the cold waters of Grimsby Docks at 10am on Christmas morning.
Each swimmer will pay a £5 entry fee with the proceeds going to St Andrew's Hospice.
Pete said: "This will be my 55th year in succession and I didn't want to break my sequence.
"I was very relieved when I saw my specialist and he gave me the all clear. It has become something of a tradition and I really didn't want to miss it.
"People stop me in the street and say 'are you the guy that does the swimming in the dock on Christmas Day?'"
Among those joining Pete in the water will be Margaret Smith, who will taking part in her 40th Christmas swim, and Mark Bird, who will be doing his third.
Pete, of Holton-le-Clay, added: "Over the years we have raised a lot of money for different charities."
He expressed his gratitude to the yacht club for providing a "good expanse of water to swim in."
Asked if he ever thought about celebrating Christmas Day in a more relaxed and comfortable fashion, he replied: "I have thought that 54 years but I have still done it 54 years. I must be mad!"
DOG owners are being warned to keep their pets on leads when walking them on Cleethorpes beach after the startling discovery of 13 dead foxes.
The Beach Safety Team, based on the Central Promenade in the resort, has issued the warning, adding it is believed the animals were killed by dogs. Although this has not been confirmed, dog owners are still being told to keep their pets on leads "at all times".
The foxes were found between the fun fair and Ross Castle.
The Beach Safety Team posted on its Facebook page: "It is strongly advised that dog owners keep their dogs on a leash at all times while visiting Cleethorpes beach and the surrounding areas.
"Over the past few weeks a large amount of dead foxes have been found and recovered from the beach.
"It is still yet unknown how the foxes have come to end up dead, so anyone with any information can contact the Beach Safety Team."
Commenting on their own post, they added: "We are pretty sure we have found the root cause of the situation and poison or infection are not believed to be the problem.
"We are confident that your pets will be safe on the beach as it seems only foxes are being targeted.
"It is not uncommon to find deceased animals washed up on the beach. Enquires were made and the relevant departments informed but turned up blank.
"We have had a great response and a few great leads which we have passed on, so hopefully these awful incidents will now soon stop."
North East Lincolnshire Councillor David Watson, cabinet member for environment, said: "It is believed that the foxes were killed by dogs but this has not been confirmed. If anyone has any information relating to these incidents they can contact the Beach Safety team.
"Humberside Police has also been made aware."
If you have any information, call the Beach Safety Team on 01472 323356, or the corporate call centre on 01472 313131.
CLUB bosses hope that Grimsby Town's festive derby with Lincoln City will draw a crowd of over 6,000.
Town welcome their county neighbours to Blundell Park on Sunday (3pm), looking to avenge their 3-2 defeat at Sincil Bank back in September.
Around 2,000 tickets have been issued already – but with a healthy following expected from the County capital – and over 2,000 Town season ticket holders – accounts manager Steve Wraith is hoping for a 'mega gate'.
He's also hopeful that the Boxing Day trip to Macclesfield – which he stressed is not all ticket – should attract over 800 travelling fans to Moss Rose.
Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: "The ticket office is absolutely swamped at the moment.
"We've issued 1,800 tickets for the Lincoln game, so with hopefully a decent turn-out of visiting fans and our 2,100 season ticket holders, we'd already be looking at a gate of around 4,500 if the game was played today.
"But by Sunday, I'd say we'd be looking at a 6,000-plus mega gate.
He added: "That will rely on the Boxing Day game at Macclesfield – which is not all-ticket for Town fans.
"We've already sold 250 and I reckon we'll take 800 or more to their place, which would be another fantastic following."
The Blundell Park ticket office is open today from 9am to noon before reopening on Saturday from 10am-2pm.
Fans will still be able to buy tickets for the Lincoln game on Sunday from 10am right up to kick-off.
POLICE are hunting three robbers who grabbed a shopkeeper, bundled her to the floor and stole cigarettes.
The owner of Kards And Kandy in Park Street, Cleethorpes, Sandra Halligan said she is grateful to one of her customers who spooked the robbers – meaning they just fled with only six or seven packs of cigarettes.
The robbery at 5.30am yesterday was the second raid on the shop in 12 months after Sandra's daughter, Lisa, was threatened earlier this year unless she handed over money from the till.
In the latest robbery two of the men, understood to be in their early 20s, entered the shop.
A third man was on lookout at the shop front.
Sandra, who has owned the shop for 14-and-a-half years, said one of the men wore a dark balaclava.
The other had his hat pulled down and his scarf over his face, so she could only see his eyes.
She said: "One of them bundled me to the floor because I was shouting to the lady who lives above the shop.
"I knew she was awake.
"One of them shouted at me to shut up."'
She told how a customer was walking to his work and noticed the gang of three acting suspiciously at the shop door.
He ran towards the shop, which alerted the man on lookout.
He shouted to his accomplices who grabbed six or seven packs of cigarettes and ran off along Freeston Street, Cleethorpes.
Sandra said: "It is the second time this year. Last time my daughter told them to 'do one' – and they did. But this time I wasn't sure what they were going to do and was worried."
She added: "It is a sign of the times.
"I was lucky really that the customer was around. They got spooked and grabbed the cigarettes and ran."
The shop owner praised Humberside Police for their swift response.
She said: "The police turned up fast."
A Humberside police spokeswoman said: "Enquiries are ongoing into reports that two men entered the shop at around 5.30am yesterday and restrained the assistant, enabling them to steal a number of packets of cigarettes."
She added: "The assistant has not been injured and enquiries are ongoing at this time."
If anyone has information in connection with this incident they were urged to contact Humberside Police by calling 101 quoting log number 74 of Tuesday, December 23.
MARINERS boss Paul Hurst can trust his squad to be fit and ready for action come Boxing Day.
Grimsby Town head to Macclesfield on Friday (3pm) as the race for Conference promotion continues.
As reported, the players won't be summoned to Cheapside for Christmas Day training tomorrow.
And Hurst – who has led Town to Boxing Day victories in each of the past three seasons – hopes that will ignite festive spirit in the camp.
He told the Telegraph: "I don't really see the benefit in training on Christmas Day.
"For me, I think you then get the players back on Boxing Day in a more positive frame of mind.
"I've certainly been involved in teams that have trained, but then I've been off at times as well.
"The squad have enjoyed some time together, and hopefully they will report fit for action on Boxing Day.
"From my point of view, as an ex- player, I know how much they look forward to that side of things.
"As a manager there are different views, but in general, I think you have to put trust in people.
"We know this time of year is party time for some people, but I know we have got a squad that we can trust."
Aswad Thomas gave his boss an early Christmas present yesterday, training for the first time since picking up a groin injury.
It means Hurst will have a full squad to pick from, as the Mariners prepare for their tricky festive schedule.
Sandwiched between two games against the Silkmen – on Boxing Day and New Year's Day – Town are also in derby action against Lincoln City.
Hurst added: "It's a strange time of year with the fixtures.
"Everyone has three games coming up quickly, so if you pick up results in those, the table could look different.
"Over a season you get highs and lows, but there's no time to celebrate or be too down.
"I know Macclesfield are up there, but it's just one game – we have to focus on the next one."
HELP get these most wanted criminals off our streets for the new year.
That was the appeal from Humberside Police as they urged the public to get these four men – on the most wanted list – back behind bars.
They have all breached their licences from prison and all have connections with the Grimsby area.
Mark Gibson, 32, David Wilson, 25, Alan McCord, 25, and Liam James, 21, have all already served time in prison.
But they have either committed further offences and are on the run or failed to comply with the terms of their licences and have not kept in touch with their probation officers.
Some had previously committed offences of burglary, robbery or theft.
Chief Inspector Mark Bishop said: "This is an opportunity for the people of Grimsby to play their part in supporting the justice process and help to keep our communities safe.
"I would therefore urge the named people or any members of the public who know their whereabouts to contact Humberside Police, with all information being treated in confidence."
Humberside Police can be contacted with any information about the whereabouts of these individuals by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
A police investigation has now been launched following a blaze which destroyed a home on Grimsby's Rutland Street.
The fire took hold of the property on Monday at 2.30pm.
Two crews from Peaks Lane fire station battled the flames and had it under control by 3.13pm.
All the occupants of the house escaped unharmed.
A spokesman for Humberside Fire and Rescue declined to say what had caused the fire, but confirmed a police investigation has been launched.
Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for updates.
POLICE are hunting three robbers who grabbed a shopkeeper, bundled her to the floor and stole cigarettes.
The owner of Kards And Kandy in Park Street, Cleethorpes, Sandra Halligan said she is grateful to one of her customers who spooked the robbers – meaning they just fled with only six or seven packs of cigarettes.
The robbery at 5.30am yesterday was the second raid on the shop in 12 months after Sandra's daughter, Lisa, was threatened earlier this year unless she handed over money from the till.
In the latest robbery two of the men, understood to be in their early 20s, entered the shop.
A third man was on lookout at the shop front.
Sandra, who has owned the shop for 14-and-a-half years, said one of the men wore a dark balaclava.
The other had his hat pulled down and his scarf over his face, so she could only see his eyes.
She said: "One of them bundled me to the floor because I was shouting to the lady who lives above the shop.
"I knew she was awake.
"One of them shouted at me to shut up."'
She told how a customer was walking to his work and noticed the gang of three acting suspiciously at the shop door.
He ran towards the shop, which alerted the man on lookout.
He shouted to his accomplices who grabbed six or seven packs of cigarettes and ran off along Freeston Street, Cleethorpes.
Sandra said: "It is the second time this year. Last time my daughter told them to 'do one' – and they did. But this time I wasn't sure what they were going to do and was worried."
She added: "It is a sign of the times.
"I was lucky really that the customer was around. They got spooked and grabbed the cigarettes and ran."
The shop owner praised Humberside Police for their swift response.
She said: "The police turned up fast."
A Humberside police spokeswoman said: "Enquiries are ongoing into reports that two men entered the shop at around 5.30am yesterday and restrained the assistant, enabling them to steal a number of packets of cigarettes."
She added: "The assistant has not been injured and enquiries are ongoing at this time."
If anyone has information in connection with this incident they were urged to contact Humberside Police by calling 101 quoting log number 74 of Tuesday, December 23.
HUMBERSIDE Police held a guard of honour for respected colleague Detective Sergeant Andy Stones.
Mounted police led the cortege to Grimsby Crematorium followed by hundreds of police officers of all ranks.
Tragically, the 42-year-old, had been found dead at his home in Holton-le-Clay, on Saturday, December 6.
The coffin carrying the officer was draped in the Union Flag and had his helmet on the top.
Moving tributes were paid as around 500 mourners gathered to honour the detective sergeant, including a tribute read by the Chief Constable of Humberside Police, Justine Curran.
They honoured his "dedication, professionalism, commitment and humanity."
Ms Curran praised his "steely determination" and "courage and bravery".
She highlighted his successful arrest of wanted Grimsby armed robber Richard Dalton, who was in Skegness when he was spotted by Detective Sergeant Stones.
She said there was a violent struggle as the officer apprehended the wanted man.
She said: "It was an example of best traditions of police service."
She described his career as "second to none" and told how he joined Humberside Police in February 1996 and transferred to Lincolnshire Police in 2003 to gain the rank of sergeant.
He later rejoined Humberside Police and played a key role in the force's major incident team.
One of the team's biggest cases was the murder of Adam Vincent in 2011.
Detective Chief Superintendent Phil Walter said the death of his colleague was "a great loss".
He said: "He loved his job and excelled at dealing with complex and detailed cases requiring patience and determination.
"Andy was well-known across the force area but especially in the Grimsby area. He started his career in Humberside Police at Grimsby and at the time of his death was a detective sergeant in the Major Incident Team, based at Cleethorpes."
He added: "Andy was a central figure within the MIT, where his keen and often dry sense of humour was regularly exercised."
The senior officer told how his colleague served with integrity, even giving his aunt a fine for an expired tax disc.
He was also a keen footballer and squash player.
The Reverend Alan Hundleby recalled a young Andrew Stones as a sixth former at Waltham Toll Bar School.
He said: "He was organised, ambitious, but humorous with it and utterly loyal to his colleagues and most important of all, his family."
Chasing Cars, by Snow Patrol, was played at the service and brought many of the congregation to tears.
The Reverend Hundleby said another song, Sit Down by James, was a favourite of the family.
Queues of mourners paid their tributes and filed past his coffin to the theme tune of Superman.
A poem written by his daughter Isabella was read at the funeral.
A Louth singer has won a national competition to find the UK's greatest unsigned talent.
As reported, former Monks Dyke pupil Ellie Butler entered the Brand New Artist competition aiming for a change in career.
And the 32-year-old, who has spent the past ten years working with horses at stables across the region, came out on top after a public vote.
Reacting to the news, she posted this message on Twitter: "I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone that has helped me in this competition. You are all amazing and I am so blessed."
Ellie, who was recently judged as the best singer in the county at the Voice Of Lincolnshire contest, has been singing for more than 10 years.
For more on this story see tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph.
Here are the Christmas opening hours for the main supermarkets in North East Lincolnshire
Tesco Extra (Cleethorpes and Grimsby stores):
Christmas Eve: closes at 7pm
Christmas Day: closed
Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm
Sat 27 Dec: midnight to midnight
Sun 28 Dec: 24 hours
Mon 29 Dec: 24 hours
Tue 30 Dec: 24 hours
New Year's Eve: closes at 7pm
New Year's Day: 9am to 6pm
Fri 2 Jan: midnight onwards
Asda Grimsby (Holles Street):
Christmas Eve: closes at 7pm
Christmas Day: closed
Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm
Sat 27 Dec: 8am to 10pm
Sun 28 Dec: 10am to 4pm
Mon 29 Dec: 8am onwards
Tue 30 Dec: 24 hours
New Year's Eve: closes at 7pm
New Year's Day: 10am to 6pm
Fri 2 Jan: 8am onwards
Sainsbury's Grimsby (Corporation Road):
Christmas Eve: 6am to 6pm
Christmas Day: closed
Boxing Day: 10am to 5pm
Sat 27 Dec: 7am to 9pm
Sun 28 Dec: 7am to 9pm
Mon 29 Dec: 7am to 9pm
Tue 30 Dec: 7am to 9pm
New Year's Eve: 7am to 9pm
New Year's Day: 10am to 5pm
Fri 2 Jan: 7am to 10pm
Morrison's Laceby (Hilmore Road):
Christmas Eve: 7am to 5pm
Christmas Day: closed
Boxing Day: 10am to 5pm
Sat 27 Dec: 8am to 8pm
Sun 28 Dec: 10am to 4pm
Mon 29 Dec: 8am to 8pm
Tue 30 Dec: 8am to 8pm
New Year's Eve: 8am to 6pm
New Year's Day: 10am to 5pm
Fri 2 Jan: 8am to 9pm
A CYCLIST who was seriously hurt in a collision with a moped was in a stable condition in hospital today. A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said that the incident happened in Thoresby Road, Fulstow, at about 5.25pm on Tuesday. The cyclist, a 70-year-old man from Fulstow, suffered serious facial injuries and was taken the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby. His condition today remained stable, added the police spokesman. The 17-year-old moped rider, who is from North Thoresby, was treated for minor injuries. The road was closed off by police in both directions and remained closed until 1am on Christmas Eve.
