The cheque’s in the postcode as 982 neighbours win lotto
TWO neighbours have hit the jackpot winning a “life-changing” sum of more than £300,000 in a lottery draw.
Julia Skellorn and Lorna Smith, who both share the same postcode in Dukinfield, were each handed a cheque for £305,674 by the People’s Post Code Lottery.
Another 980 people in SK16 5 postcode in Tameside were awarded between £2,217 and £6,651 at the lottery’s £3m monthly prize event the largest yet.
Players pay £10 a month to play with their postcodes to win cash prizes, with 32 per cent of the money funding local, national and international charities.
On Saturday, residents were invited to an exclusive event which was held at Dukinfield Rugby Club after being told their postcode had been selected for the £3m jackpot.
It comes just a few months after residents in nearby Audenshaw were surprised on their doorstep with four lucky neighbours winning £300,000 each.
Julia Skellorn, 46 only signed up to play the postcode lottery in June after hearing of her friends’ big wins in Audenshaw.
She said: “This is all a bit surreal, but really exciting.
“It was just unbelieavble when the last letter of the winning postcode was revealed to everyone and I realised it was mine.
“I was only expecting to win the minimum amount, which were told would be £500, so this was a big shock.”
Julia’s neighbour, Lorna Smith, 49 also signed up in June.
The mum-of-of three was originally given a cheque for £2,217 but upon discovering she had the full winning postcode, that cheque was replaced with one for a staggering £305,674. She said: “When that big cheque came out I was literally shaking. “It’s such a huge amount of money and it’s so surreal to think that I’ve won. “I’ll need to have a sit down and think about what I’m going to do with it. “It’s my 50th birthday in September so I’d like to visit America as I’ve never been. “We adopted our dog Oscar from Lorna Smith Dogs Trust last year and I’ve always wanted a pet.
“He has made such a huge difference to our family and I’m so happy that I get to support the charity by playing People’s Postcode Lottery.”
Matt Johnson, People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador, said: “It has been an incredible day here in Dukinfield, the biggest event we have ever done! It is brilliant to be able to celebrate with everyone who has won today.”
A minimum of 32pc from each ticket goes to charity and, so far, People’s Postcode Lottery’s players have raised an incredible £320 million for more than 4,000 charities and good causes in Great Britain and internationally.