More than 1,000 neighbours on a Greater Manchester estate have shared a whopping £3.2m lottery win. Residents of Alkrington in Middleton are splitting the winnings after getting lucky on the People's Postcode Lottery.
And 11 neighbours on Kingsway really hit the jackpot after their exact postcode, M24 1LS, was drawn out, meaning they'd each landed a massive £145,454. Among the winners are couple Mark and Kathryn.
Unbeknown to Mark, Kathryn had actually bought two tickets, meaning they bagged almost three hundred grand.
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Mark who works for a company managing professional darts players, learnt of the win via a video call with lottery presenter Jeff Brazier while sunning himself next to former world darts champion Mark Webster on holiday in Spain.
Dad-of-two Mark said, "I thought 'happy days', £70,000 each. But then Jeff pulled out another cheque and I was like, 'Oh my God!'
"I'm 17-stone six-foot-two, a big lad, and I did get quite emotional. [Mark Webster] was just shaking his head and saying, 'It's unbelievable', and that he was so pleased for me."
An overjoyed Mark now plans cut down his hours at work. He said, "It's a life-changing amount of money. It's going to make things so much easier. I'm not getting any younger as I'm 57 next month, so I can now be more selective about when I work."
HR manager Kathyrn, who had plans to go on a hen do on the night they learnt of their win, said: "I'll definitely be having some champagne tonight. I would have had a good time anyway, but I am going to have an amazing time now.
"I didn't really get to celebrate my 50th birthday as my dad wasn't very well. I think I'll take the family away somewhere nice and then go on a girls' trip. I deserve one!"
The couple, who have been together for 20 years, hope to spend some of their money on renovating their garden. Mark is also scrapping his plans for a man cave in favour of something much grander.
He said, "I started building a man cave about four years ago, but it's been an eyesore in the garden ever since. I think I'll knock it down and build a much bigger one. And yes, it will have a dartboard."
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Next door neighbours and best friends Kim and Sharon found out together that they'd each scooped a £145,454 cheque. The elated grandmothers are so close that they have a hole in their fence through which they chat and pass each other meals and cups of tea.
Kim said, "Sharon's more than a friend - we are family. This couldn't have happened to a nicer person. We've been through so much over the years and we wanted to learn how much we had won together. It just seemed right.
"Sharon's sons saved my life when my house was on fire years ago. We have been close since the moment she moved in in 1986."
Kim cares for husband David after he developed a brain disease two years ago. She added, "This money will allow us to make his life more comfortable and to create memories together."
Sharon, a carer, who is originally from Bangladesh and regularly donates money to help build homes for those in poverty, was overcome with emotion when she learned how much she'd won. She said, "I won't really believe it until it's sitting in my bank. It really is the most amazing feeling.
"When we thought it was over a thousand pounds, we both planned to spend the money on our gardens but now I know how much it is, I might just buy Kim's from her. I never thought I would be able to take my grandchildren away on holiday and I feel so blessed that I can. I don't know where yet but I can't wait to spoil them all."
The 1,051 remaining players in the area received cheques ranging from £1,359 to £5,436, depending on how many tickets they played with.
