Stonebroom neighbours strike it rich with People's Postcode Lottery win

Among the winners are a married couple who are furloughed and shielding, a mum of two who plans to buy a headstone for her late mother’s grave, a night-shift worker and a retired carer.

Postcode DE55 6JH was announced as a winner on Sunday, February 21, landing 10 lucky players a prize cheque for £30,000 each.

The remaining two winners pocketed £60,000 each in winnings thanks to playing with two tickets.

Winners found out how much they’d won on video calls with lottery ambassador Matt Johnson.

Ian Harris, 55, and his wife Elaine, 54, have lived at the postcode since 1988 and both won, taking home a combined total of £60,000.

Elaine, who is currently furloughed from her job as a warehouse operative due to ill health, let out a scream when she saw their prizes.

She said: “You’re joking! That’s amazing. That’s going to make a massive difference in ways you wouldn’t believe.”

Ian, who has bad asthma so has been shielding since March, added: “I’m a great believer that there’s always a light at the end of every long, dark tunnel so this has come at the right time

"I feel very blessed and fortunate right now, this will change our lives, 100 per cent.”

Elaine lost her father last year and likes to think he had a hand in their windfall.

She continued: “I was visiting his grave recently and asked him to have a word with him up there and then we got this phone call.

"It’s nice to think my dad’s still looking after me.”

Married for 34 years, Ian and Elaine plan to share their good luck with their family.

Ian said: “We’ve two fantastic kids and four grandchildren so we’ll help them out and maybe get a car and have a holiday when we can, have some sunshine and relaxing.

"We’ve never seen that amount of money before so we’ll use our noggins a little bit.”

But first they plan to celebrate, with Elaine commenting: “We’ll get a takeaway ordered in and we can send some money to our children so they can treat themselves too.

"We’ll have a Chinese and Facetime!”

Mum-of-two Jane Larcombe, 44, was another £30,000 winner and was emotional when she saw how much she’d won.

She said: “Things like this don’t usually happen to people like me, this means a lot.

“I lost my mum 18 months ago and I’ve been trying to save this last year for a headstone but it’s been really hard because they’re so expensive, so that’s the first thing I’m going to buy.”

Jane, who is unable to work due to a degenerative condition in her spine because of a car accident 20 years ago, also plans to treat her children and herself with the money.

She said: “I’ve two teenagers so I can help them out.

"My son is learning to drive at the minute and I’d like to take my daughter to see the Northern Lights when we can too.

“Having two teenagers, they always come first.

"I don’t spend much on myself but I’ve always wanted some jewellery from Tiffany’s so I think that’ll definitely be on the shopping list.”

Night-shift yard worker Fred Turner was pleased he got out of bed to take the call as he won £30,000.

When he saw his cheque, Fred said: “Oh my God, really? Jesus Christ. I’m shaking, I can’t begin to tell you what a difference that’ll make.

"I can’t wait to look at my bank account now.

“I’m glad I got up to do this now, I think I’ll probably sleep a bit sounder when I go back to bed.”

Fred already has a few ideas on how he’ll spend his windfall.

He said: “I’ll do some bits around the house and when we can I’d like to go on holiday, probably somewhere in Spain and I’ll take my missus, Abbie.

"I shall be having a lager to celebrate first though.”

Eileen Parry was one of the players picking up £60,000 and she was joined by her husband Neil when she found out how much she’d won.

Eileen, who celebrates her 65th birthday in three weeks’ time, said: “This is the best birthday present ever - and I’m getting my vaccine.

"This has made our year, hasn’t it?”

Neil added: “Crikey, that’s a surprise that. I thought it was going to be £1,000.

"We’d been talking about getting a new fitted kitchen so now that can be on the cards.”

Eileen, who is a retired carer for her two grandsons who both have learning disabilities, plans to share her good luck amongst her family.

She said: “Our grandsons will probably want something and we’ve two sons.

"Our youngest has been a bit poorly and has been getting kidney dialysis for about 15 years.

"We’re in his bubble so we’ll head over to the next town to celebrate with him.”

The remaining winners chose to remain anonymous but their cash prize will be paid into their bank account.

Matt Johnson, People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador, said: “To see £420,000 going to one street is fantastic news.

"It was really lovely to meet some of our lucky winners and hear how big a difference the money will make to them – it doesn’t get much better than that.

"Congratulations to our lucky players in Stonebroom.”