Neighbours celebrate £12.3m Postcode Lottery win

Players in the postcode area shared the bumper jackpot on Saturday, when they discovered exactly how much they had each scooped at the special celebration event at King George V Playing Fields, where prize envelopes were handed out to lucky ticket holders.

It was a full-blown party atmosphere, complete with music by singer Beverley Knight, as players received at least £2,000, with the biggest prizes going to those whose full postcode matches the winning code revealed on the day.

Stunned mum Tracey Hill, started sobbing after her family home won her an incredible £389,846 Postcode Lottery prize – on the day she sold it.

Tracey, 59, had come close to cancelling the ticket for her old address, days before the windfall was revealed.

But tearful Tracey told of her relief after she decided to continue playing until the sale of her bungalow had gone through.

The holiday park deputy manager was even more shocked when her latest home – a company-provided villa near Sutton-on-Sea – won her a second cheque for £7,851 because it lies within the wider postcode sector. That gave her a grand total of £397,697.

Tracey said: “If I’d cancelled earlier, I would have felt sick. But I decided to wait until after the house was sold.”

Tracey was the only player in the full winning postcode to land the lottery’s signature Postcode Millions prize.

Another 1,334 players in the postcode sector area – including Tracey – won prizes ranging from £7,851 to £47,106, depending on how many tickets they play with.

Around 3,000 people turned up in the spring sunshine for the special event at Sutton Rovers Football Club.

The crowd cheered when it was revealed Tracey’s win was the reason for them all landing their prizes as lottery ambassador Matt Johnson presented Tracey with her second cheque.

She said: “To be honest, I thought it was all combined in the first one. I’m in even more shock now after getting another cheque. It makes you feel a bit greedy.”

Hours earlier, Tracey threw her hand over her mouth and burst into tears when her big windfall was revealed – before sobbing on Matt’s shoulder.

Now the mum-of-one and husband Tony, 70, are planning how to spend their new fortune. She said: “I’m just shocked, it’s amazing…a life changing amount of money. There’s so much we’ll be able to do now that we couldn’t before – new carpets, new furniture, a couple more holidays this year, a new car and just enjoy it.”

Retired gas mains layer and handyman Tony: “I’m just amazed. I might get a new car. I’ve not had one for years. I’d like a Mercedes, if I can remember how to drive!

“I like mountain biking too. I might get myself a titanium mountain bike.”

Their daughter Leanne Lowe, 42, will also benefit from her mum’s new fortune.

Tracey – who turns 60 in October – said: “I’ll treat my daughter. She lives in the area, but she’s gutted that she doesn’t play the Postcode Lottery.”

Pet lover Tracey first joined the lottery to support animal charities.

She said: “I normally do some 10k runs every now and again and try to raise money for local animal charities like Fur Babies guinea pig and rabbit rescue, Hensell Goat Rescue Care Farm and Cats Protection.”

Tracey added: “Everyone’s been so nice saying thank you and congratulations. Friends have been crying for me.”

Meanwhile, John Wilson bought wife Dorothy three Postcode Lottery tickets as a Christmas present last year – and she scooped £23,553.

Grandmother Dorothy, 71, was left overwhelmed: “This is amazing…the best Christmas present ever. My husband bought the tickets for me as a surprise. Now I’m saying, ‘bless him’.”

Elsewhere, secretary Angie Shaw, 51, joined after twin sister Pip Metcalfe won more than £6,000 when a £7.9m Postcode Lottery Millions prize was shared by residents in nearby Mablethorpe in October 2022.

Mum-of-two Angie said: “I’ll treat my children and it’ll help toward my garage conversion.”

More than 26 years ago, Sutton Rovers volunteers hosted a youth football fundraiser involving a borrowed donkey and £2 bets.

Proud Sutton Rovers secretary Maureen Olaribigbe, 64, said about 35 of their fundraising bingo players have won. “About eight of the walking football team and I know for a fact there’s four in the darts team. Loads of our friends, neighbours…we reckon we know about 80 people who’ve won,” she said.

She added: “It’s like a family here. Everybody knows everybody, so to see people who don’t have a lot suddenly get thousands of pounds – it’s lovely. But it’s not just about the money. It’s about seeing people smile, seeing the town come alive.”