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Steve Schiltz, 56, hid his millionaire status when he answered the government’s call for help as a shortage of lorry drivers cut off supplies across the country.

A truck driver who helped out during the pandemic hid a secret from his co-workers he was a lottery millionaire.

Steve Schiltz answered the call for help as a shortage of truckers cut off supplies across the country.

He said: ‘I was a lorry driver before I won the lottery and I had a letter asking me to come back.

“A lot of people with HGV licenses had the same letter from the government, but few of them were lottery millionaires.

“It made me a key worker and I didn’t think twice – I was happy to help and it was great to be back at work.

“It meant that instead of money coming out of the bank account, we had money coming in!”

Steve, 56, from Pontardawe, Swansea, drove Lidl trucks across Wales and the West Country to help customers with supplies during the Covid crisis.

He was inspired by his wife Lesley, 56, who went on to work as a freelance health and social care trainer after the couple won their fortunes in the Euromillions raffle in 2019.

Lesley, 57, says she likes the job too much to pack, but has moved to a four-day week.

The couple celebrated their victory with a trip to the Maldives and traded in their old Fiat Multipla for a new Range Rover Discovery.

But they still live in the same house and have used part of their fortune for the financial future of their six children and four grandchildren.

Steve credits his luck to his “guardian angel”, his daughter Theresa, who died of a heart attack aged just 16.

He ran the London Marathon the following year in her memory and to raise money for sick children.

Steve’s arms are tattooed with Theresa’s name and picture and he attributes his luck to his little girl watching over him.

The couple still do the lottery every week and say if they win again they will give their all to good causes.

Steve said: “We’ve been very lucky, it’s a wonderful feeling to have no money worries anymore.

“If we win again, it would be nice to give it back to the people.”

Andy Carter, Camelot Winners Advisor for the National Lottery, said: “Millions of people across the UK have played their part in supporting key services and their communities during the pandemic.

“The lottery winners were no different, with many undertaking many roles and activities to play their part. It is heartwarming to see the contribution made by all of these people during such a difficult time for so many.”