A lottery winner who scooped a £115m fortune and has given away more than half her winnings said she is "addicted" to helping others.

Frances Connolly, 55, agreed a yearly charity budget with her husband, Patrick, but had already spent up to 2032's allocation, she said.

The Hartlepool couple won the EuroMillions in 2019 and immediately gave away cash to friends and family.

Mrs Connolly claims helping others "gives you a buzz and it's addictive".

"I'm addicted to it now," she stated.

The ex-social worker and teacher has set up two charitable foundations: one named after her late mother Kathleen Graham in her native Northern Ireland, and the PFC Trust which supports local young carers, the elderly and refugees in her home town.

She estimates she has given away £60m but does not keep a tally, joking she would be worried in case her 57-year-old husband saw it.

Asked by PA News why she was happy to give so much away, she said: "Why wouldn't you? I've done that all my life.

"I'd have been a millionaire anyway if I took back all the money I've given away over the years."

Mrs Connolly said winning a huge amount of money might change a person's life but it does not alter their personality.

"If you're stupid before you get it, you're going to be stupid afterwards," she said.

"If I had any advice for a winner... I'd say money liberates you to be the person that you want to be."