Several hundred workers at a troubled Spanish travel agency who are worried about their jobs have won the top prize in El Gordo - the world's oldest and richest lottery.

Just as the government was closing down the bankrupt Air Comet division of Viajes Marsans, putting 640 people out of work and over 7,000 passengers without flights to South America, the staff lottery number hit the jackpot.

The phones never stopped ringing at Marsans' 200 offices in Madrid, around central Spain and in the Canary Islands after number 78294 was called during the morning ceremony and 584 millions euros of Christmas cheer was up for grabs for those who shared winning tickets.