The man who scooped almost £19 million on the lottery has declared he would give it all back if he could have his health.

Heart patient Stephen Smith, a one-time doorman and bingo caller who shares a one-bed council flat with his wife Ida, was the only winner of the £18,992,109 jackpot on Saturday.

The 58-year-old, from Hemel Hempstead, Herts, said while he was "over the moon" about the huge windfall, it has been overshadowed by a life threatening condition.

Mr Smith, who was diagnosed with an aortic aneurism three years ago, said: "If this goes - it can burst at any time - I have a one in ten chance of living.

"It's a ticking timebomb inside me. It's her (Ida) I worry for, it's leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her because there are no shops in the cemetery, are there?"

The money will make no difference to his condition because doctors have to wait until the aneurism is a certain size before operating, otherwise the risk is the same as it bursting, Mr Smith explained.

He and his wife Ida, 68, never had children together but now have six grandchildren from the four children they had before they married each other in 1987.

The couple, who have always lived in council accommodation, are now planning to buy a four-bed bungalow, and Mr Smith is planning to swap his "motability" car for a burgundy, state-of-the-art Range Rover as well as a smaller pick-up type vehicle for day-to-day use.

He said of his win: "I feel out of this world. How can anybody feel if they have just won 19 million quid? It is emotional. How can you explain? I can't. I can't put it into words ...

"It's like the champagne cork popping. It's all my birthdays come at once.

"It's Christmas every day from now on and I have not believed in Christmas for a long time."

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