JANET and Andrew Toulcher's lottery win has bucked the local trend.

Statistics released at the end of last year showed Huddersfield to be one of the unluckiest places to play the Lotto.

A survey by Lotto organisers Camelot put Huddersfield 108th out of 115 UK towns, based on winnings.

But things may look up after the Toulchers' £4.5m win - the biggest ever in the town.

Not that there has been a complete absence of big winners. Since the National Lottery began in 1994 there have been seven winning jackpot tickets in the Huddersfield area, with four millionaires being created.

In 1997, Tony and Elaine Taylor, from Greetland, won £9.4m.

In April the same year, 11 members of staff at Fabric Treatments at Caldervale Mills, Ravensthorpe, shared £1.3m.

And in November, 1999, a dozen workers at Spen Valley Kitchens, Heckmondwike, shared in £3.2m.

In January, 2000, 50 workers at the Brook Hansen works on St Thomas's Road, Long- royd Bridge, shared in a £3.4m payout.

In March the same year Barkisland kidney patient Mick Taylor, 26, won £4.1m.

In November, 2000, a Huddersfield man who stayed anonymous scooped £3.7m.

Smaller wins include a Linthwaite man who won £250,000 in October, 1995.

Within the space of a week in February, 1997, Netherton pensioner Francis Joyce won £184,742, and Kenneth Scarfe, then landlord of The Grove pub at Dalton, won £101,401.

Grandmother Mrs Joan Jackson won £223,665 in March, 2001. In June this year, an unnamed Bradley woman won £179,137.

There has been a millionaire in Huddersfield for every 31,027 players, compared to one per 9,429 in Ilford, Essex.