$239 million jackpot

A retired truck driver won $239 million on the lottery in America then declared: "It doesn't excite me all that much. It's no big thing to me." JR Triplett scooped the £129 million jackpot after buying five tickets at a store a few miles from his home in Virginia.

He said he told his wife, Peggy, the day after the draw: "Sweetheart, I've got those numbers."

Triplett, who chewed on a toothpick at a news conference to announce his win, said: "Then she got down on her knees and thanked the Lord."

Indeed, Peggy appeared considerably more excited than her husband of 35 years. She said she would "shop 'til I drop". Triplett bought the Virginia Lottery Mega Millions ticket at the Red Apple Country Store in Stephens City, 80 miles west of Washington. The numbers drawn were 1, 13, 20, 21, 30 with Mega Ball number 24. The odds of winning were one in more than 135 million.

Triplett said he had no big plans for the money but would probably invest in property. He also said he and Peggy, who did not want to divulge their ages, would have some fun. "Sweetheart and I might get lost for a couple of days," he said.

The couple, who have two children and two granddaughters, were late for the press conference as they forgotten the ticket when they left home .

A Lottery official said the April Fool's Day claim had been verified. "The ticket is good. Everything is cool," he said.The draw took place on 20 February, and the delay in claiming the prize had led to speculation that the ticket might have been lost or discarded. The deadline for submitting the winning ticket was 18 August.

It is the world's second-largest single-ticket lottery win. Jack Whittaker of West Virginia won the $314.9 million Powerball jackpot in 2002.

Triplett will be allowed to take the win in 26 annual payments of $9.19 million before taxes or a lump sum of $141.5 million before taxes.