IT HAS been five years since the National Lottery rolled into action for the first time. Seven winners split the first jackpot of £5.8m and a further 865 people have now become millionaires, writes Adam Coffer.

But despite Camelot's reassurance that the system is random, spokeswoman Carolyn FitzGerald admits clear patterns have emerged. She says: "Our research does show trends in lots of different fields."

Managers, builders and engineers have been the most successful lottery players. Even company directors figure relatively highly, collecting 3% of jackpots, compared to teachers and farmers, winning 1.8% of the top prizes so far.

And despite their new riches, more than half return to work after their win.

Location is also crucial. In a survey of 160 winners, 53 came from Liverpool - more than any other city. Birmingham and Leeds, both boasting 46 winners, are the second luckiest cities. But only 10 people scooped the jackpot in Belfast.

However, Northern Ireland is lucky in another way. It is the home of Curleys, a department store that reached a landmark in January. Its customers have so far picked up prize money of more than £2m.

Since the first draw on November 19, 1994, the Scots have enjoyed a good run of luck. An area of central Scotland 20 miles across has been dubbed the Golden Circle for its ability to produce lottery winners.

The area around Falkirk and the central belt has produced five jackpot winners, four of whom netted more than £2m. And the Elgin Sweet Shop in the Grampians recently hit the £500,000 mark in payouts even though, like most independent retailers, it is only permitted to pay out up to £500 a ticket.

If neither a change of profession nor moving house take your fancy, you could increase your chances of winning by handling your ticket with care.

The most popular hiding places for jackpot tickets is under the pillow, closely followed by a cash box and inside the Bible. Other favoured places include socks and under the floorboards.

If all else fails, you could wait for one of your family to become leader of the Opposition. Marjorie Longdin, William Hague's aunt, scooped £856,000 last November.

The 74-year-old farmer's widow treated herself to a new Toyota Starlet, a gem in her opinion. She also made a £12,000 donation to Children in Need to appear on the television quiz show Call my Bluff. She has promised £100,000 to each of her four children but otherwise her spending has been modest.

"If you have been careful with money all of your life you can't start spending wildly when you win the lottery," says Longdin.

But she does not entirely dismiss the concept that a lottery win will grant you happiness. She says: "It did not change my life, but I certainly feel a lot happier and more stable now."