Peoples Postcode Lottery winners rejoice as neighbourhood bags £8.4 million

A neighbourhood in Kent is coming to terms with the news that more than 500 residents have won a share of an £8.4 million lottery jackpot.

It’s an early Christmas present for players of the People’s Postcode Lottery who live in the “ME3 7” postcode area, which is in Cliffe, near Rochester.

Nine players whose postcode is “ME3 7QL” scooped £342,375 each, and another player has been handed double that figure – £684,750 – for having two tickets.

Taxi driver Paul Laker and his wife Alison were two of those who won big, reports Kent Online.

“We didn’t really believe it,” said Paul, 61.

“We didn’t know how much or who was going to turn up today. We’ve both won and it feels amazing. We really didn’t know what to expect. It’s life-changing, isn’t it? We want to help our girls. This secures us for the rest of our lives, really.”

Alison, 57, added: “It’s amazing that everybody can have a lovely Christmas after the last two years being so tough. It would be nice to say we’ll spend it on a holiday. Our holiday to Florida has been cancelled a couple of times due to Covid, so now we can make it extra special.”

Marion Milton was stunned when she saw her cheque, and could say only: “Oh my God! Oh no! Oh my goodness me!”

She will now be able to visit her son in Australia for the first time in about three years and is planning to go first class once Covid restrictions allow her to fly.

“We never thought in our wildest dreams we’d be a winner,” she said. “Never. I still can’t get over it. I think I need a stiff drink!”

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It was a bitter-sweet day for Marion who attended a memorial service for her brother later in the day.

“His daughter picked the date as today is his birthday, and then when I found out the lottery was coming, I thought, ‘Thank you Murray’.”

A total of 537 other players in the postcode area also won prizes. They ranged from £7,522 to £22,566.

The People’s Postcode Lottery supports charities as well as paying out prizes, and participants have raised more than £800 million for 9,000 good causes since 2005.

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