The Euromillions glory was to come in the form of an estimated £37 million triple rollover on the draw on Friday night. 

But have you checked your ticket yet? 

The winning numbers were: 4, 10, 14, 37 and 46 and the lucky stars 4 and 7.

Meanwhile, the Millionaire Maker number was XMN947162. 

Are you a winner? Good luck!

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DERBYSHIRE has been ranked in the top 10 worst places in the UK reports of animals being used to fight.

Calls to the RSPCA reporting organised animal fighting have gone up by a third in the past five years - despite dog and cockfighting being banned for 180 years.

There was a total of 594 calls to the charity in 2014 to report incidents or information connected to organised animal fighting, compared to 449 in 2010 - an increase of almost 33%. 

Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA's special operations unit which investigates organised animal crime, said the figures came as no surprise.

He said: "RSPCA inspectors deal with countless instances of neglect caused by ignorance, but these cases are all about premeditated cruelty. People are deliberately breeding, training and fighting animals for the sole purpose of inflicting suffering.

"Hopefully one day organised animal fighting can truthfully be described as a thing of the past. Until then, we'll keep investigating and try to bring about an end to such horrific levels of animal cruelty."

The areas with most reports of organised animal cruelty to the RSPCA in 2014 were:

1. West Midlands (48)
2. Greater London (36)
3. Greater Manchester (35)
4. Lancashire (27)
5. Kent (26)
6=. Nottinghamshire (23)
6=. West Yorkshire (23)
8=. Essex (18)
8=. South Yorkshire (18)
10=. Cheshire (16)
10=. Derbyshire (16)

To report animal cruelty contact the RSPCA's 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.

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LEON Haslam made an excellent start to the new World Superbike Championship campaign in Australia.
The Smalley ace claimed victory and a second place in the two races at Phillip Island on Sunday.
Haslam, making his debut for the Red Devils Aprilia team, was pipped by Jonathan Rea in the opener.
But the roles were reversed in the second race as the Derbyshire man passed Rea on the final turn to win his first race in five years by 10 thousandths of a second.

"This race brings back great memories," said Haslam. "My last win was at Kyalami in 2010 after a great battle with Rea.

"My compliments to my team. They did a great job all weekend.

"In Race One, I unfortunately made a mistake but, luckily, I felt like I had a wide enough margin and I was able to rejoin the pack and finish second in the final dash by just a few thousandths.

"I started Race Two even more motivated to win. Despite feeling like I had less 'reserve' after the halfway point, everything went according to plan.

"In the last turn, I opened up the throttle at the right time and I realised that I had overtaken Rea straight away right on the finish line.

"I am truly happy to finally be back on the top step of the podium!"

It means that after the first round of the season, Haslam is joint top of the championship standings with Rea on 45 points.
There was disappointment, though, for Derby-based Alex Lowes.
The Voltcom Crescent Suzuki rider finished 11th in the first race before being forced to retire in the second.

"I just don't know what to say," said Lowes. "Me and the team have put in so much work all week to have a strong package but from the very start of the warm-up session to the end of my second race, everything that could go wrong, did.
"It's impossible to point the finger at anyone or anything. Everyone has been putting in so much effort to support me and get the GSX-R in the front group and we managed that all week but on Sunday, it fell apart.
"Right now, I just feel flat but we'll get back, get re-focused and rebuild for the second round of the championship. There is still a lot of racing left to do."

Good job @realleonhaslam@ApriliaOfficialpic.twitter.com/5GH2TAg2gH

— Andrea Petricca (@reddevilsroma) February 22, 2015

Nearly perfect.. Thanks to @reddevilsroma@ApriliaOfficial@DoningtonParkUK@WhyArai@dainese@DST@High5Nutrition and @insidebikes

— leon haslam (@realleonhaslam) February 22, 2015

Thanks to my friends and family who have stuck by me through tough times. I knew we'd get back. pic.twitter.com/eLIgzmjJJ8

— leon haslam (@realleonhaslam) February 22, 2015

It's not about how hard you can hit, but how hard you can get hit get up and keep moving forward, thanks for the tests but I never give up

— Alex Lowes (@alexlowes22) February 22, 2015

Good work @realleonhaslam deserved it mate

— Alex Lowes (@alexlowes22) February 22, 2015

A DERBYSHIRE man is taking on a tough challenge across the Sahara Desert to raise money for charity.

Ben Hall, of Peacroft Lane, Hilton, has signed up to take on the Marathon Des Sables, an event ranked as the 'toughest footrace on earth' by the Discovery Channel.

Marathon Des Sables is an exhausting, five-stage adventure, which is the equivalent of six-and-a half-marathons, across the desert.

Ben, 23, said: "I have done various marathons in the past, and wanted to find something a bit harder. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I also saw a documentary about it when James Cracknell competed.

"After seeing that it was the toughest footrace on the planet, I decided it was the one to go for."

Participants are provided with a tent to sleep in but all other equipment and food must be carried. The annual race always takes place at the end of March/early April.

Ben, a manufacturing engineer at Rolls-Royce, is doing the challenge to raise money for Kids Kidney Research, a charity that has provided support for one of his friends.

Ben said: "Chris Blanksby is a close family friend who has had a lot of treatment since he was born from Kids Kidney Research.

"Chris has overcome his problems, but other members of his family have the same conditions and therefore need the same support from the charity."

Ben has been running over 100 miles a week in training. He said: "I have been putting in a lot of miles since last September, trying to do a lot of back-to-back training runs.

"I have had a rehearsal week where I only ate and drank the food and water that I will be having in the desert. During March, I have heat acclimatisation sessions booked in at St George's Park in Burton to try to get my body used to the heat."

Ben's trainer completed the Marathon Des Sables and has been providing him with important advice. Ben said: "I have been using a coach called Matt Buck, who completed the race last year.

"He has given me a lot of advice about training, and what kit and food I need."

Paul Alexander, from Kids Kidney Research, said: "We are both amazed and delighted that Ben has decided to take on such an incredible challenge in order to help raise money for Kids Kidney Research.

" I think this is probably the most extreme challenge that any of our fundraisers has undertaken to date. Kids Kidney Research raises funds for vital research into kidney disease in babies and children.

"It is one of the most efficient research charities and over 95% of all funds will be spent on research projects at hospitals and laboratories all over England."

Ben takes on the Marathon Des Sables in less than six weeks. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/Chris-Blanksby1/

CONTROVERSIAL plans to redevelop the A38 islands in Derby could have a negative impact on the picturesque village of Breadsall, parish councillors have warned.

Now, they have issued a rallying call to villagers to attend a public meeting to find out more about how the proposals could affect their homes.

The Highways Agency wants to spend £220m creating underpasses at the islands at Markeaton and Kingsway and a flyover at Little Eaton. And as Breadsall is located nearby, the parish council says it is concerned about the impact of a flyover.

Christine Goodwin, chairwoman of Breadsall Village Parish Council, believes the plans are the biggest problem the village has faced in the 47 years she has lived there.

The 73-year-old, of Orchard Close, said: "It could wipe hundreds and thousands of pounds off the values of homes in Breadsall.

"There will be some encroachment on green-belt land and a lot of the lovely views we have here would be lost. Plus there is noise issues because of how close it will be. It will no longer be a peaceful place.

"We get a lot of noise from the A38 as it is but if this went ahead that would become a lot worse."

The Highways Agency is conducting a consultation into the plans and is holding a public meeting in Breadsall on Thursday after a request from the parish council.

Nicala O'Leary, clerk of the parish council, is urging every villager to attend. She said: "I fear some people in the village believe it will not affect them but it really will.

"We've seen the plans and the drawings and people need to be aware of them. Some years ago when these plans were first put forward, Breadsall didn't seem to be in the firing line. But now it is."

A Highways Agency spokesman said assessments were ongoing in the village and it welcomed feedback from residents about the plans. He said: "Landscape assessments are already ongoing at Breadsall, and these will help us create designs which develop the local landscape and minimise visual impacts from the scheme. For instance, new embankments alongside the raised section of the road could be developed into a wooded hillside helping to shield the view of the road whilst enhancing the local environment.

"Again, nothing is set in stone. We appreciate that local people want to let us know their opinions on this proposal – and we've organised exhibitions specifically for Breadsall and Little Eaton residents to give local people a chance to view the plans and discuss their views with the project team."

The public meeting is being held at the Memorial Hall, in Brookside Road, Breadsall, on Thursday from 4pm to 8pm. Another meeting is due to held on March 2.

HIS party was named the laziest in Europe when it comes to turning up to vote in the European parliament.

MEPs from his anti-EU party, while still enjoying the gravy train, took part in only six out of ten votes in the main chamber from 2009 to 2014.

He claims he's not wealthy and has been quoted as saying he's the poorest man in politics, despite the fact he is paid three times the average UK salary. I have also read that he has a chauffeur allowance and can claim a considerable amount in expenses every year.

He picks up an MEP's salary of £79,000. His EU office allowance is £3,850 a month. Plus, he also qualifies for a daily subsistence allowance of £250 for each day spent at the European Parliament.

He leads a party that is ranked bottom in the league table of 76 from across the EU – on average its MEPs have turned up for just 61.1% of votes over five years.

His name – Nigel Farage.

If he considers himself the "poorest man in politics", how does that make you working people earning less feel, knowing he wants your vote? It's your choice.

Ken Moreton

The Green, Draycott

MEN from a country estate just outside Derby were keen to sign up when the First World War broke out just over 100 years ago in 1914.

But the list of 15 names on the war memorial at Elvaston reveals that not all of them came back to the country and life they went to defend.

Their sacrifice has not been forgotten, though, and the men's names form the basis for a week-long event in August which looks back at wartime Elvaston and the estate's life and times, entitled Elvaston: Then and Now.

The Elvaston Parish Plan steering group, armed with an £8,400 National Lottery Heritage grant, is overseeing the arrangements for the event, which runs from August 16 to 23.

The week's activities, following on from an opening ceremony in the Elvaston Castle church of St Bartholomew, will include an exhibition based on the life of Charley Garratt, who went to war and returned to tell his tale.

This appeared in a booklet originally published in 1988.

There will also be walking trails, children's art and games, the dedication of a sensory garden, a dog display and pigeon release, music and a schoolroom session.

The tale of Danny the horse, which was called up to serve in the war, will also be part of the exhibition, together with a look at the role of women through Alice's Tale and the changing face of the Elvaston Castle estate.

Project leader Eve Wilson said it had been a case of delegating aspects of the programme to "match people's talents or interests" during the organisation.

She said: "Currently, people are finishing their particular aspects of the story.

"We are waiting for our artist, Di Shephard, to have the sketches of Charley's tale ahead of carrying out the actual paintings.

"We're creating the imaginary story of Danny – a horse called up to serve in the war – with text, photographs and drawings.

"And people are knitting and crocheting poppies, which will be sold on a stall throughout the event. We will also be selling locally-made ceramic poppies."

Schools in the area will be invited to take part in the week of events by writing letters to imaginary fathers and brothers serving in the First World War.

Ms Wilson said: "We're also hoping that Charley's sons, Bob, who is 90 and lives in Poole, Dorset, and Christopher, 70, from the Isles of Sicily, will be able to attend the event.

"We have found during our research that, although the people lived and worked on the Elvaston estate for many years, not all of them originated in the area.

"In fact many arrived to work from all around the country, which makes it quite hard to track down any descendants.

"Elvaston Castle was never opened up to become a hospital or convalescent home during the war, but the 9th Earl of Harrington did issue a call to estate workers to rally to the war effort.

"His own son, Talbot Fitzroy Eden Stanhope, was killed in 1915 at the age of 18."

Although many groups commemorated the start of the First World War last August, the Elvaston group decided to delay and give itself an opportunity to organise a bigger event at a time when many others had already taken place.

Ms Wilson said: "It is entirely appropriate that it should take place this year because it is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Suvla on the Gallipoli peninsula [in Turkey] where the Derbyshire Yeomanry and Sherwood Foresters were involved, which Charley Garratt belonged to.

"We want this event to reflect the significance of the role communities like Elvaston, which had just 420 parishioners in 1911, played during the war and the impact the conflict had on them.

"There will be time for quiet reflection and also an opportunity for people to record their thoughts. We want as many people as possible to come and visit us."

I CAN'T be the only person who finds the whole concept of self-service in a supermarket incredibly frustrating.

And can there be any singularly more annoying phrase in the whole of the English language than "unexpected item in the bagging area"?

You might have guessed that I went shopping over the weekend. Normally, I do my best to avoid frequenting any kind of shop on Saturdays and Sundays.

I hate the crowds and get frustrated by screaming children whose parents seem to have zero skills in controlling their offspring.

Don't even get me started on the shoppers who leave their trolley in the middle of the aisle while they agonise over which particular brand of cat food to buy for Tiddles this week.

But last week had been a busy one at work, so I hadn't found time to get the weekly shop in. And that's how I ended up braving the melee of Saturday afternoon shopping.

To be fair, there were checkout operators at most of the tills, but I only had a basket, and every line seemed to have at least three big trolley-fulls waiting to be scanned.

So I decided to use the self- service.

I should have known it was going to be a disaster – because all I had in my basket was a DVD, a bottle of wine and packet of painkillers.

Sounds like a very sad night in, doesn't it? But no, the DVD was for my daughter and the wine was a birthday present. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

The first discordant note emerged from the scanning machine before I had even started putting my shopping through.

It was the dreaded "unexpected item". All I was trying to do was use my own shopping bag. So I had to wait for the one assistant who was managing the self-service tills to come over and reprogram the machine, but only after she'd peered suspiciously into my packed bags.

I suggested, politely, that she might want to stay while I put through the items that I knew would cause the scanner to go into meltdown but, of the six self-checkout tills, five had orange lights flashing to indicate another shopper was also struggling with technology.

So I carried on and, once I had two bags full, I took them off the bagging area and put them on the floor. That completely blew the machine's programming – lights were flashing, the robotic voice was accusing me of removing items and I couldn't scan anything else.

The rather frazzled-looking assistant was, by now, being berated by an elderly gentleman who was struggling to understand the system and, quite frankly, I had come to the end of my tether with the whole experience.

I left and picked up the essentials from a local independent shop. I probably paid twice as much, but it only took ten minutes.

The problem is that it is not just supermarkets that are insisting their customers do all the work.

I'm always being asked by energy providers to give them a meter reading. Same with my water supplier.

I moved house a couple of years ago and it was an absolute nightmare getting the final bills. Not one of the companies would come out and take a reading.

In the end, I only managed to get them out by cancelling my account and moving to a different provider with a smart meter.

We've all got used to putting fuel in our cars ourselves – but I still remember when it was done for you. In fact, where I fill up it still is, and I'm happy to pay a little extra to not smell of petrol all day.

Even airlines are slowly moving to fully-automated check-ins now. I flew to Amsterdam recently and it was all done online. I bought my flight, checked in, printed off my tickets and even chose my favourite seat that way.

I'm probably old-fashioned and out of touch – but I miss the personal touch.

DERBY Telegraph readers have thrown their weight behind a campaign to help raise £4,500 in vet's bills for an injured dog.

The money is needed for golden retriever Bella's treatment after she was run over by a vehicle on Sir Frank Whittle Road.

Dawn Shuttlewood saw the incident on Wednesday which she described as "horrific" and has launched a campaign to raise the funds for the three-year-old's treatment. In response, readers have contacted the Telegraph pledging to donate to the cause and already almost £300 has been donated.

Dawn, of Stenson Fields, helped Bella's owner take her to a vet for treatment. She said the driver did not stop but was not to blame for the incident which left Bella with two broken legs.

Dawn said: "The response has been absolutely amazing and we're hopeful to have raised a couple of hundred pounds by the end of the week. It's fantastic that people have been in touch and we're in a position to get the ball rolling and getting the money in.

"My husband Michael did some car-washing for neighbours on Sunday and that raised £60, so with the generosity and kindness of the readers, I hope we can have a few hundred by the end of the week.

"I was really worried that we wouldn't get anywhere because I can't do this on my own. That was a heart-breaking feeling to think nothing would happen but this is just amazing. I'm totally overwhelmed. It's all gone beyond my wildest dreams."

Bella's owner, who wants to remain anonymous, said she had managed to negotiate some time to pay the vet's bill. If she hadn't done so, she says, Bella would have been put down.

St Leonard Veterinary Centre, in Osmaston Road, has agreed to do the work and Dawn has praised staff there as "lifesavers".

Annie Jeffreys, 52, is the reception manager at the veterinary centre. She said the centre received calls all day long yesterday from people wanting to donate.

She said: "People have kept ringing and ringing wanting to help. It's been fantastic. They are all animal lovers and want the best for her. Derby Telegraph readers have been absolutely amazing and they always are when we put appeals out for help. It will all help to go the owner and relieve her of some stress and worry. It's also a good range of people who have been touched and want to do the best for Bella."

She said the owner of the surgery, Karl Underhill, was doing some of the surgery on Bella yesterday.

If anybody would like to donate they are urged to e-mail isaac.crowson@ derbytelegraph.co.uk for details.

Property expert Kate Faulkner, of PropertyChecklists.co.uk, takes a look at your options when it comes to carpentry. 

WHENEVER I am looking at a job or two to do around the house, the first thing I have in my mind is whether to risk having a crack at it myself or get in the professionals. It might be you just need a couple of shelves putting up and are or know someone dab hand with a drill and fixings, but if it comes to fitting bespoke wardrobes, or something like a new kitchen or full loft conversion, it's probably time to work out whether it is better to get someone in.

It's not just the quality of the work, but it's also the time it takes (in my experience it always longer than you think if doing it yourself) and the fact you often get warranties on the work from those that are professional and belong to a trade association. And, you may find when you look back at the jobs you have to hand, it's not just a few things that need doing buy quite a lot of 'added extras' such as preparation, sourcing good quality materials and clearing rooms ready for work to be done.

And it's not just the furniture or fittings themselves that require a bit of thought – you'll also need to consider what sort of 'look' you are after. A great way of briefing a tradesperson such as a carpenter is having pictures of what you like via the web, magazines you have read or shop brochures to show them what you like – and don't like. This helps to avoid communication issues which can very easily occur – especially if you booked them a while ago as we all can forget what we said at the time and change our minds without realising it!

Once you have a good idea of what you want, it's worth thinking through the budget. Yes you can save some money doing it yourself and sourcing all your own material, but if this means it takes months rather than weeks to get done – is it worth the wait and the loss of all your weekends and evenings? And, I often find that when you are doing your own jobs, 'life' can get in the way. You or family can get sick or something happens that means you have to 'drop everything' and suddenly months have passed and you still haven't got anything done!

Once you have compared the price and time it takes to do it all yourself versus using a professional, then remember to add a bit extra to budget. As with many property projects, especially larger ones, things do not always go strictly according to plan. So it makes sense to have around a 10% 'contingency fund' so that you are not left gasping at extra costs if problems crop up.

So far, so good. You have a plan and are clear if you are doing it yourself or outsourcing. Your final task now is to make sure you know what you can and can't do without your local Planning Authority's approval. You need to know whether building regulations and/or planning approval is needed if you're contemplating major work such as a conversion or an extension. And repairs to listed buildings do need permission first for you to go ahead, however urgent these might seem.

Next it's about choosing the right professional if you have chosen this route. I always look for tradesmen who have taken the time and care to register with their professional 'trade body'. In this case: the Institute of Carpenters. The IoC has a search facility on their website and it helps you find someone that does quality work. It is wise to search by 'county' eg Derbyshire. Of course, if you're using a building contractor, that's fine too but do make sure their carpenter is an IoC member.

As always, three quotes are best, and make sure you get them in writing, with a breakdown of labour and costs. Do check carefully what the payment terms are – if someone wants all of the money upfront, run a mile! However, a deposit covering cost of materials to start the work is perfectly normal. Ask also about guarantees and how long they last for, as well as making sure your carpenter is covered by his/her own insurance, including public liability insurance.

Need help choosing a carpenter or other tradesperson to do a job in your home? Then do visit www.propertychecklists.co.uk for more help and one-to-one advice.

POLICE are treating a blaze which broke out following a raid at a Derbyshire charity shop as arson.

Five fire crews were sent out to tackle the flames at the PDSA shop in Market Place, Long Eaton, yesterday morning.

Hundreds of donations were reduced to ash and volunteers were left devastated by the incident.

Police said burglars had broken in to try to steal a safe before the fire was started.

The top floor of the premises suffered significant damage which extended to The Cheesecake Shop next door.

Police and firefighters responded to emergency calls at around 1am.

The blaze comes less than five months since the shop had undergone a refurbishment.

Shop manager Moira Earley said: "We could do with a lot of donations now as everything has been gutted. It's mindless vandalism. We just had a shop re-fit, we were re-branded about October; all repainted.

"It's gutting for the volunteers because they put so much time and effort into the job."

Yvonne Crannage, manager of nearby Birds Bakery, works on the same row of shops as the PDSA store. She said: "I think if the firefighters hadn't got here quickly it could have spread to us. The only thing you can do is count your blessings that no one's been hurt.

"I was just asking staff that work at PDSA if they needed a cup of tea. We have got to rally around. You have got to help each other out."

Jenette Nadin, manager of the Mind charity shop on the same street, said: "When we came to work this morning, the alarms were going off and the police were here. It's just dreadful what's happened. It's a charity when all is said and done.

"You just think, why would someone do something like that?"

Adam Hind, of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We don't believe it to be accidental. There's a lot of damage at the back because there's a lot of stock and the fire had been burning for some time."

A police spokeswoman said: "It was a burglary – someone broke in and tried to steal a safe. It looks like a fire was set in the same room where the safe was.

"Fire investigators have done their work and are almost certain that it was deliberate so we're treating it as arson."

Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious. They are urged to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.