What a good girl! Dog helps couple double EuroMillions win

A lucky couple, who scooped just under £150,000 on the Euromillions, doubled their prize money after their dog found a second winning ticket for the same amount. Jane and Alan Slater knew they had won £149,089 in the draw on 29 September, but it wasn't until labrador retriever Ruby found a forgotten ticket in their car a few days later that they realised they had actually won double that amount.

Mrs Slater, 59, said: "We had a lovely walk, chatting about the amazing start to the week with our Euromillions win and how lucky we had been. As we got back in the car to head home, Ruby hopped on to the back seat with me and disturbed this piece of paper inside a catalogue which gently floated down to my feet. I really can't explain the way this piece of paper floated, it was like you see in slow motion in films, as though someone wanted me to notice it."

The winning numbers - 11, 14, 26, 29, 49 and Lucky Star number three - had been played by the couple for 20 years. Mrs Slater said her husband had bought the second ticket without realising she had already purchased one, as they regularly bought tickets for several draws.

Mr Slater, 65, said the "magical" win was even more poignant as it was discovered on Ruby's second birthday. "We both burst into tears when we saw the second ticket was also a winner. It all happened in such a magical way, what with Ruby disturbing the ticket on her birthday and it floating so gently right in front of Jane's eyes. The ticket could so easily have disappeared in the rubbish when I tidied up the car, we couldn't help feel that someone was looking down on us," he said.

Thanks to the lucky win, Mr Slater, who is a customer relations manager, said he will retire a few months earlier than planned. In the meantime, Ruby and the couple's other dog, border collie Kai, are guaranteed a large amount of extra treats.