A lucky man in the USA has scooped a massive lottery jackpot after he found a lucky penny on the ground on the way to the petrol station.

Ralph Mayton Jr. from the city of Graham, in the US state of North Carolina, said he owes the massive USD 266,982 (GBP 219,173) prize to a penny he found while heading to the BP Graham petrol station.

Ralph said in a statement obtained by Newsflash from North Carolina Education Lottery: “I always hear it’s good luck if it’s laying heads up and darn it if I don’t believe it now.

“I still got it in my pocket right now and I’m keeping it forever.”

The mechanic with more than 40 years of experience said the Fast Play jackpot stood at USD 66,982 (GBP 54,972) at the time he bought the ticket.

However, since he bought a USD 20 [GBP 16] 100X The Cash ticket, he received 100 per cent of the progressive jackpot plus USD 200,000 [GBP 164,066].

Mayton said: “I had no idea that I won the extra USD 200,000. My heart almost stopped I was so excited.”

He said that he immediately called his mum to share the good news, but she did not believe him at first.

The lucky player said: “We play Halloween tricks on her every year and she thinks I’m playing a trick on her right now.”

Mayton said he plans to take his mum on a trip to Hawaii with the winnings after he picked up his prize at lottery headquarters on Monday, 30th October.

He said: “That’s the only place she’s never been. And she deserves it, so I want to take her.”

Ralph went home with USD 190,230 (GBP 156,106) after state and federal taxes.

North Carolina Education Lottery officials said: “Fast Play features an instantly growing jackpot that increases with every ticket sold until it is won.

“As of Wednesday morning, the Fast Play jackpot stands at USD 53,000 [GBP 43,492] and counting.”