IT'S not going to change their lives but the smiles were broad today as a group of number crunchers celebrated a lottery win. The champagne was flowing for members of a lottery syndicate the Audit department at Ipswich Borough Council who scooped nearly £120,000 in a Lotto draw on July 31.

IT'S not going to change their lives but the smiles were broad today as a group of number crunchers celebrated a lottery win.

The champagne was flowing for members of a lottery syndicate the Audit department at Ipswich Borough Council who scooped nearly £120,000 in a Lotto draw on July 31.

With nearly £10,000 each the group is planning to spend their winnings on new kitchens, new computers, new furniture, trips abroad and maybe even a new horse.

Today several members of the group were in Ipswich town centre to celebrate their win at the shop where they bought the winning ticket, WH Smith in Westgate Street.

Syndicate organiser Karen Dighton, 46, said she found out about the win after returning from a holiday in Greece.

She said: "I checked on Teletext and thought we had got five numbers. My husband said check the bonus ball, which was 39, I could not believe it.

"I screamed and screamed, my children wondered what was going on. I had to check it ten times, I was in a daze."

The mother-of-two then phoned a colleague with the good news.

"I wanted to make sure the ticket was in the safe. On the Friday we went to Watford to pick up the cheque, we could not wait over the weekend.

"We had four numbers last month but I have never won that sort of amount before. We are hoping for the big one now."

Mrs Dighton said she would buy a new computer and refurbish her kitchen with the cash.

Auditor Jeanette Watts, of Levington, has worked for the council for 20 years.

She said: "I shall use the money for a holiday. I want to go to Australia. When I found out I screamed quite a lot then I had to sit down. It is a lot of money.

A mother of two Mrs Watts said her children have asked for a new horse and anything from the Baby Annabel catalogue.

She said: "They have put their orders in."

The syndicate, which has played the lottery with the same numbers- 13,17,29,40,39 and 48 -for the last ten years, have yet to celebrate as a group but they are planning a meal out to revel in their luck. If they had chosen number 3 instead of 39 they would be jackpot winners.

Audit manager Martin Old, 46, of Goring Road, Ipswich, said he wouldn't be leaving his job.

"It is not life changing but it is very nice. I could not believe it at first, it took a while for it to settle in."

Planning to buy new furniture and driving lessons for his children Mr Old said morale at work had improved since they won the money.

He said the win had been tinged with sadness.

He added: "Earlier this year our boss Trevor Welham died and our thoughts have been of him since we won.

"He was a popular man and would have been sharing our win. We have got new working arrangements to get used to and this has given us a big lift."

Among those planning a new kitchen is Keith Deakin, 56, of Radcliffe Drive, Ipswich.

Her said: "It is very pleasant but it is not life changing, we shall be staying at work."

Technical assistant Richard Codling, 32, said he was not sure how he would spend the money.

He said: "It is a bit of a bonus really, I won't have to think twice if I want anything but I do not know what to spend it on."

WH Smith shop assistant Laura Jawor said she expected a rush of people to buy lottery tickets in the store.

"It is fantastic for them. People might think we are a lucky shop now."