NEW research has revealed the struggles lottery winners experience after striking lucky and hitting the jackpot – and Bowdon millionaires Sharon and Nigel Mather have put this to the test.

The Nicer Problems to Have study by EuroMillions showed that it typically takes more than six months for lottery winners to adjust to their new luxury lives.

Some of the most common new challenges they face include struggling to fit the shopping in the back of a sports car, how to gift wrap a car and handling ‘Pretty Woman’ moments.

To highlight the common lottery winner plight of fitting shopping into luxury transport, EuroMillions winners Sharon and Nigel Mather, who won £12.4 million in 2010, were challenged to go shopping at the Trafford Centre in an as355 Twin Squirrel helicopter on Sunday September 25.

The couple rose to the challenge and enjoyed their shopping spree but failed miserably when it came to storing their luxury goods onboard. After struggling for quarter of an hour the couple had to concede and call for back-up in the shape of a limo to take their new purchases home.

Sharon said: “Who knew that a helicopter had such a small boot. Nige wouldn’t even be able to fit his golf clubs and trolley in that. It is actually quite a tight squeeze in a helicopter and we couldn’t get all our shopping on board. It was rather amusing and we had to get our driver to take the remaining shopping bags back home for us. Think we’ll stick to the Bentley in future.”

Andy Carter, a National Lottery Winners’ Adviser, said the study has pinpointed a new social phenomenon of ‘Nicer Problems to Have’ experienced by Britain’s 4,250 plus lottery millionaires.

“We find it takes six to nine months for winners to adapt to their new life,” he said. “There are both emotional and practical adjustments to be made before they truly relax into the millionaire lifestyle and there is no set rule book to follow. However the challenges they face are definitely nicer problems to have. Let’s face it, discovering how to book a private jet or waiting for 6 months for a supercar is something we would all like to experience.”