Dewsbury neighbours strike it lucky in huge £390k lottery win

The Woodkirk Gardens neighbours netted the incredible sum when their lucky postcode, WF12 7HZ, was announced as a winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Sunday 28 April, landing them £30,000 each.

Retired Michael Brook, 69, didn’t believe it was real and thought someone was having him on. He said: “This is mind blowing – winning this kind of money when you’re retired and on a fixed income really is life changing!”

Scooping the massive cheque isn’t the only thing Michael and his wife Lynn have to celebrate. Lynn commented: “It was our 46th wedding anniversary yesterday and we had a small party, but maybe a bigger one is in line now!

"It’s Michael’s 70th birthday in September and we were thinking about booking a cruise down the Danube, but we’ll be able to do more than think about it now with this money! We can’t wait to get the kids round to tell them and pop open a bottle of fizz.”

Mother-of-two Christine Fothergill, 41, says the moment she saw People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Jeff Brazier on her street she realised her luck was in.

She said: “I’d been out with my mum that morning, but when I drove into my street and saw Jeff and a People’s Postcode Lottery car it hit home what was happening.

“My son and daughter had been out all day at the World Coal Carrying Championships, but when they came home I got them to open the gold envelope again and they were jumping up and down.

"We’ll do something fun with the money like go on an adventure holiday with the kids, either a safari trip or a once in a lifetime visit to Australia.”

Christine also said her People’s Postcode Lottery win would come to the rescue of her home, which has been hit with subsidence caused by the roots of an old oak tree in the garden.

Words escaped Brenda Crossland, 75, when she saw what was written on her cheque: “I was expecting £1,000 so to get £30,000 is amazing.

"It’s a tremendous amount and I’m not quite sure what to do with it all but a holiday somewhere hot would be fantastic and I might upgrade the car too. However, before all that I think a celebration is in order!”

Sarah Walsh ,48, who works in admin for a security company says winning feels amazing. She only signed up to play four months ago.

“We’ve never had spare money like this. It’s a dream come true,” she said. “We’ve always lived month to month, so this will be a great help.”

The mother-of-two, who has recently become a grandmother, added: “I want to give my daughter and her partner a bit of money towards a deposit for a house.

"They’ve just had a baby girl and are living with us so that will make a difference. We’ll also pay a small amount of money off the mortgage and I’ll plan a special trip to France next year for my 50th birthday.”

Retired paramedic Christopher Greenwood, 41, was ecstatic to be a winner. He said: “You never think things like this will happen to you. We saw the adverts for People’s Postcode Lottery and decided to go for it.”

The father-of-three, who has three daughters under the age of 13, does a lot of touring in his caravan and said: “I’d like to get a more updated car to pull the caravan.

"We’ve travelled around the country from Norfolk to Cumbria, but we’d like to tour abroad - possibly around Europe.”

Vicky Day 44, who works in health and social care, loves that she’s helping support charities close to her heart.

She commented: “My mum and her partner are blind and they both have guide dogs, so it’s fantastic to know that just by playing I’m supporting The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, alongside other great causes.”

Also winning was Lesley Lewer (59), who plans to use the windfall to make a dream come true by going to visit family in Australia and New Zealand.

The remaining winners couldn’t be there to collect their cheques in person, but the prize money will be paid into their bank accounts.

Visiting Dewsbury to hand out golden envelopes were People’s Postcode Lottery ambassadors Judie McCourt and Jeff Brazier.

Judie commented: “Neighbours winning together is what People’s Postcode Lottery is all about, so it’s incredible to see thirteen people sharing this experience together.

"I’m sure there will be a few parties happening in Woodkirk Gardens over the coming weeks!”