Lucky neighbours from Cleethorpes were beaming with joy after they scooped life-changing sums in the People's Postcode Lottery.
Mum-of-two Kayleigh Burnett, 37, won £145,454 and told her husband the news on FaceTime while he was working at his fish stall. Primary school worker Kayleigh was one of nine residents on Campden Crescent, Cleethorpes, to win big with the top prize of £436,363 going to a lucky neighbour who played with three tickets.
Postcode Lottery ambassador Judie McCourt visited the town on Saturday, March 2, to hand out the cheques, and the winners couldn't have been happier. Each resident in the DN35 7 postcode won £1,306 for each ticket they played with, while those on Campden Crescent won even more.
Kayleigh, whose dad Duncan also won £2,612, said: "I thought I'd maybe win enough to get my windows done but never in a million years did I ever think I'd win this much. This is life-changing for us. It'll make life a bit more comfortable."
She FaceTimed her husband Guy, 39, to tell him the good news while he was working at a market near London, reports Grimsby Live. He exclaimed: "Jesus! I can't believe that. My husband was sceptical and said I shouldn't get my hopes up. Now he isn't. He'll need to be careful driving home after seeing that."
Earlier that week, Kayleigh received a call from the People's Postcode Lottery to tell her she had won an undisclosed amount, and ran into the headteacher's office to share the good news. She told her boss: "The Postcode Lottery are on the phone, and have said I've won something, can I have the day off so they can come to my door. It's been a strange week to say the least. My head is still spinning."
The couple are now planning on taking their two children, Isaac, 8, and Elias, 4, on a sun-soaked holiday, after having work done on their house. They are also getting a new puppy, French Bulldog Nala.
Another £145,454 winner was Bill Cobley, 74, who said he'll finally ditch his bent garden fork for a new one. The gobsmacked gardener, who grows veg in an allotment with wife Christine, said: "We used to win a few prizes for our vegetables, but this is a prize I never expected to win. It's beyond my wildest dreams. People like us don't just come into that sort of money."
Bill, who worked as a fish auctioneer among other jobs, said: "It'll put smiles on a lot of faces in Cleethorpes. It's always been a low wage area, and we've suffered over the years. The fishing industry is gone, and with it went some of the large factories, like Birds Eye, and it really hit the town hard. I'm so glad the town has had some luck."
Bill and Christine are now planning to spend their winnings on a bucket list trip to Japan, a new driveway, and treats for their family. Bill added: "There's so many things we can do now but tonight I think we'll have a Chinese and break open a bottle of champagne."
NHS nurse Lesley Craig, 57, was left in disbelief after bagging the six-figure sum. She said: "I wonder what the bank will think when this goes into my account. It's not sunk in yet. I think until it does, we can go on a nice holiday."
She plans to make her husband Nigel's 60th birthday even more memorable by upgrading their golf resort in Warwick - and intends to spoil her grandchildren with her cash windfall. The mum-of-two said: "My two grandkids want a climbing frame and a swing set for the garden, so they'll definitely get that now."
Another winner was 56-year-old Bill Boreham, who plans to buy a new car with his new-found wealth. He said "That's lovely. I can even buy a new car because my car is an old banger. I'm a modest guy - just a Porsche or Lamborghini will do."