Nine lucky residents in a Lanarkshire village enjoyed the most welcome of knocks at their doors as they scooped a combined £300,000 jackpot.
The Cleland neighbours, who include a grandfather-of-14, a nurse and a bus mechanic - won the sensational sums from the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Eight of the winners on Scarhill Street each pocketed £30,000 after their postcode, ML1 5QE, was announced as a winner.
And dad Robert McCulloch doubled his winnings to £60,000 thanks to playing with two tickets.
Robert was particularly overjoyed for his wife Claire after a five-year health battle and told Lanarkshire Live: “It’s awesome.. I'm over the moon. You just can’t imagine winning anything like £60,000.
"Claire has been ill since 2018 and we were told she needed to get gastric pacemaker fitted. She had an operation in December to get it fitted thanks to some help from her friends.
“It’s not been easy, and this money means a lot to us.”
Bus mechanic Robert added: “It’s way more than a year’s wages. We’re just workers and who is going to have that sort of money in the bank?
“I work 12-hour shifts every day, so I might take a week off now.”
The couple are now planning a few dream holidays with their cash windfall, with Robert explaining: “I’m going to book a cruise and I’m going to do Route 66 in America.
“We can also update the car and Claire is wanting new windows and doors. We’ll see the family all right and they might join us on a big holiday.”
NHS nurse Alice McFarlane was lost for words after netting £30,000, which was presented by People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson.
The Celtic supporter later said: “I talk for Scotland, but I swear to God, I didn’t know what to say when I saw the cheque.
"I can get a Celtic season ticket because I love the Hoops. My daughter Molly and I can have a holiday and I’m looking for a new house, so I can put some money towards that. But Celtic first.”
Alice already has a few holiday destinations in mind, adding: “We’ll go to Santa Ponsa in Mallorca for some sun, and I want to go back to Northern Ireland with Molly to show her where my dad was born.”
Alice was delighted for her neighbours who also won, saying: “It feels amazing because the neighbours here are all so close.
"Many of my neighbours I work with at the hospital, we all know each other and look out for one another.”
Another winner on the street was mum-of-two Natalie McClean, who scooped £30,000.
She said: “You just don’t expect to win, I’m buzzing.
"I’ve just started my own beauty business so the money will help to set that up.
"We can treat our two kids and we can go on a family holiday somewhere sunny.
People in Wishaw won last year so I just signed up straight away because I didn’t want to miss out as well as it’s great that playing helps so many charities.”
HGV driver and grandad-of-14 David Young also bagged £30,000.
He responded: “Ya dancing bear! I’m flabbergasted. I’ve never won anything in my life. I’ve not even won an argument with the wife.”
Neighbours Margaret Murray and Jacqueline Ritchie also scooped £30,000 each, while the other three winners chose to remain anonymous.
Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson said: “A massive congratulations to our nine winners in Cleland. I had lots of fun surprising many of the neighbours with the whopping cash prizes.
“I hope they all enjoy celebrating this week, spending the cash and have a great time on holiday.”
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