A PONTYPOOL bus driver will be celebrating this Christmas after winning £250,000 on a scratch card.

Kieron Rogers, 23, who works for Capital buses, won the life-changing sum on a National Lottery Christmas Advent Calendar scratch card last weekend.

Last Sunday, Mr Rogers went to his local One Stop shop in Broad Street, Abersychan, where he picked up the winning card. He said he was in disbelief when he found he had won. “I couldn’t take it all in when I scratched the card, and I still can’t now. I scratched the card in my car and the colour just drained from me,” he said.

“I went back into the shop to ask them to check, as I just couldn’t believe it. They couldn’t either. I then called my mum, and had the same reaction from her.”

Mr Rogers, who has had a number of health problems since being diagnosed with hydrocephalus when he was nine and has undergone three brain operations as a result, said he felt “incredibly lucky” to have won the money.

He said: “I’m still finding it hard to believe, but am really excited about Christmas. This year is going to be fantastic and I just can’t believe my luck.”

The Pontypool bus driver, who drives disabled children back and forth for local organisation Evolve, plans to be generous with his money and is buying his four brothers and sisters and his parents £5,000 worth of Christmas presents each. He will also be buying a caravan at Porthcawl’s Trecco Bay, where his family has holidayed throughout his childhood.

Car fanatic Mr Rogers, who currently drives a three-year-old Seat Leon, will also be treating himself to a new Mercedes AMG Sport. He said: “I have always been into my cars but have only ever dreamed of owning a Merc. I love cars and I also love Christmas it will be the best this year.”