£161m Euromillions winner, Colin Weir dies aged 71

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Colin Weir, who won one of Europe's biggest lottery jackpots, has died after a short illness aged 71.

Mr Weir and wife Chris, from Largs in North Ayrshire, claimed the £161m Euromillions prize in 2011.

Earlier this year the pair confirmed that they were to divorce after 38 years of marriage.

Mr Weir recently completed his takeover of Scottish Championship football club Partick Thistle and had announced plans to gift ownership of the club to fans.


A minute's applause was held at Saturday's Partick Thistle game to commemorate Mr Weir's death.

Players also paid tribute by wearing black armbands during the fixture against Greenock Morton.

In 2013 the couple set up The Weir Charitable Trust and made a donation to a community football club in Largs.

They also invested in Partick Thistle Football Club which led to the youth set-up being rebranded the Thistle Weir Youth Academy and a section of their Firhill Stadium being named the Colin Weir Stand.