The women, from Maelor Wrexham Hospital, north Wales, are to go back to work after winning £1m each.

They held the only ticket with all six winning numbers from Saturday night's draw.

The BBC's Hefina Rendle: "They couldn't believe their good luck"

On Tuesday the nurses swapped ward duties for the luxury of the Waldorf Hotel in London to pick up their winning cheque.

Luckiest of all the winners is Glenys Churchill, 61, who was set to retire earlier this year but stayed on to save up for a holiday with husband Dennis, 71.

"I'm going to put my feet up," said Glenys. "I don't know what the others are going to do. I think some of the younger ones may stay on because we are a very dedicated team."

'Over the moon'

Grandson Wayne, 17, said she was over the moon with the windfall.

"It is a stroke of luck - if she'd left the hospital, she would have dropped out of the syndicate and she might never have won."

Dedicated colleagues Menna Story, 51, Zara Clarke, 51, Carys Lovell, 51, Carol Davies, 53, and Amanda Lewis, 33, who all earn less than £15,000 a year, said their love of the job meant they could not keep away from work.

The other winning nurses were Pearl Williams and Glenys Jones.

"I am happy doing my job and doing what I do," said Mrs Lovell.

"We have a hard time, but the rewards are there. I have been a nurse for 35 years since leaving school and it is worth it when people give you a card or a box of chocolates to say thank you.