Breaston Millionaire Street

THREE next-door neighbours in a quiet cul-de-sac are planning a 'big, big street party' after pocketing a share of a £1m prize.

Paul Rowland, George Mounsey, and Alison Browne - who all live in semis next to each other - gasped with shock when they each revealed £200,000 cheques.

They shared a £1m pot with Paul White, who lives in a bungalow opposite, and another neighbour who wished to remain anonymous.

Alison said they would all have a celebration in their neat street tucked away in the picturesque village of Breaston, Derbyshire.

She said: "It's a fantastic feeling and I can't stop smiling. But we're going to have a big, big party on the street.

"It's wonderful. We've known George and Paul for over 30 years and we get on really, really well.

"It's a lovely street, lovely neighbours, and a lovely place to live."

George said: "We couldn't believe it when the three houses won together.

"We didn't know they were in it until we went round and banged on the door and asked, 'Are you in the Postcode Lottery? Have you had a phone call?"

Paul Rowland added: "There's a lovely community spirit and it's lovely to have three winners in a row."

The five neighbours landed the whopping windfall in Breaston after DE72 3BZ bagged our weekly Millionaire Street prize today. Every ticket was worth £200,000.

Four of the winners whooped, laughed and hugged each other after being presented with their prizes together.

George said: "I'm in shock at the moment. I thought it would be £30,000. But this is unbelievable."

And he laughed: "When does this go in the bank?"

Paul Rowland said: "I was going to take my wife for a weekend away. Now it'll be a fortnight away. What are the chances of this happening here?"

Paul White said: "It's a lot of money. I'm nervous and gobsmacked."

And Alison added: "I don't know what to think. This is life-changing, it really is."

Her husband Tim dashed home from work at the end of the cheque presentation and, after spotting the prize, he said: "I can't believe it. I'm just glad she didn't phone to tell me the amount when I was driving!

"I didn't even know she was doing People's Postcode Lottery, to be honest."

Now the winners are all excited for the future.

For Alison and music teacher hubby Tim that means resurrecting big travel plans to celebrate their 40th anniversary, which landed during lockdown. It also includes fulfilling a lifelong dream of going on the iconic Orient Express.

Tim beamed: "It means everything. We always wanted to do the train trip across the Rockies in Canada and also the Orient Express.

"There's lots of trips that we've never done and have never been able to do. And now we'll be able to do them and that's fantastic."

Alison, a freelance school music exam coordinator, said: "We've been married 43 years now, but our 40-year anniversary fell during lockdown so we weren't able to celebrate properly. Now we can do that."

The mum-of-two revealed she'd hardly slept for a week since receiving a call to say she was a winner.

She said: "I've lost half a stone this week. But it's good! You have dreams that you have won lots of money, but then you wake up and think, 'Damn, it's a dream.'

"This is how I felt every night this week when I managed to get to sleep at 3am. Then I woke up and thought, 'No, it's not a dream!'"

Alison explained exactly what the win meant to them. She said: "It just shows you. You think it will never happen to me. But it has happened to us so it can happen to anyone.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would win this much."

Musician Tim, who plays the clarinet and saxophone, said youngest son Matthew follows in his dad's musical footsteps and plays the classical guitar.

He said: "He is autistic and that really calmed him down when he was younger.

"That's why we haven't told him yet because he hates attention. He lives in a supported flat and the security this will bring him is great as well."

Asked if he was looking forward to being spoiled by his parents, older son James, an engineer, laughed: "I'll be happy with a pint in Spoons. It's £6 a pint!"

Tim said his dream gifts from Alison after the win would be another puppy to keep Pointer Finlay company - and a new Gore-Tex waterproof jacket.

But Alison said: "If we get another dog we'll need a house with a bigger garden.

"My son and daughter-in-law don't want us to get another dog because they have to look after them if we go away.

"We're all going away to Wales on holiday together next week so we can celebrate there."

Across the road, retired electrical contractor Paul White is already planning a Christmas holiday to Australia.

And the classic car fanatic is also eyeing up his dream motor.

Paul said: "I always wanted to go away at Christmas. I think that might be on the cards now. I've got two cousins, one in Alice Springs and one in Melbourne.

"I always wanted to go to Australia. When I first got married, I got all the paperwork to emigrate. My wife at the time said she didn't want to leave her parents, so we didn't go."

The emotional great-grandad, who also has a son, daughter and two grandchildren, added: "I will see my family right, too, obviously.

"I'm apprehensive. It still hasn't sunk in really at the moment. I was expecting a couple of thousand, but that's a lot of noughts. To look at this piece of cardboard and then you can't imagine it as £200,000 in a pile on the floor."

Paul loves American 50s cars and has always hankered after a vintage Cadillac.

The dad-of-two, who currently owns a pimped-up Chrysler PT Cruiser, said: "I like American 50s cars. Plenty of chrome!

"I'd like a 1959 Cadillac. It depends on the condition, but if you want a good one you would pay £50,000.

He added: "I can't get my current car in the garage at the moment because it's not wide enough. I might have to move house!"

Back across the street, Paul Rowland will be treating his family to a dream holiday in the Maldives - if his daughters get their way.

He said girls Lizzy and Charlotte had already made their minds up on how some of his big win should be spent.

Paul said: "Both my daughters are nurses. Lizzy wants to go to the Maldives. They've already said to us, 'Oh we can go to the Maldives - you can take all of us.' You know what kids are like."

Paul and wife Angie, who also have a son Peter, are now thinking about how to spend their winnings.

Midwife Angie said: "We've got holidays coming up. We will have a bit of a splurge and then think about what we're going to do.

"There will definitely be some treats for Christmas."

Paul, who works with the prison service national distribution centre, had to ask his boss for time off in the morning so he could collect his cheque.

He joked: "But I said I would try to come in for the afternoon! Now I'm definitely going back in because I want to take my cheque in!"

He added: "When I started to pull my cheque out of the envelope, I saw the '2' and thought, 'Wow, I've won £20,000.'

"Then when I carried on pulling it out, I saw more and more zeroes. And I just couldn't believe it."

Through the wall, childhood sweethearts George Mounsey and his partner Margaret Blurton were left stunned by their windfall - and are now thinking of investing in a caravan.

George said: "We haven't got a clue what we're going to do. We're not short of money, we're very comfortable.

"Margaret would like a static caravan in Yorkshire somewhere. We'll see, we may invest.

"We've travelled the world and seen a lot of places. We've got two Schnauzers and when you've got dogs, you've got to think about them all the time. World cruises are out."

George told how their teenage romance was rekindled half a century after dating when they met in a supermarket fruit-and-veg department.

Grandad George said: "We've known each other since we were teenagers. When I was 15 and she was 16, we went out together for a year. We later got married to other people and were both widowed. Fifty years later we met up again in Asda and we've not been apart since. That's 16 years ago now.

Margaret said: "I was with my sister in Asda."

George laughed: "We clashed in the fruit and veg. The worst thing was, I said, 'Hello Margaret' and she said, 'Who are you?' Then she remembered."

Margaret added: "He then joined the walking group that I was in."

Tragically, Margaret lost her son and daughter to cancer, but has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She said: "The family will get better Christmas presents this year."

George added: "We might even get a bigger turkey!"

But the couple have made recent purchases which they both regret now - a new Kia for George and a Citroen for Margaret.

George said: "I've just bought that car; I wish I'd bought something better now."

And Margaret echoed: "We've both just bought a new car. I should have waited and had a better one."

The neighbours all told how they signed up for Postcode Lottery to help support local, national and international charities.

And because of their win, Derbyshire-based Treetops Hospice has been awarded £100,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

The charity supports over 2,000 people with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as their carers and families.

The main aim of the charity is to ensure people have the highest quality of care possible, no matter the stage of their illness.

Julie Heath, CEO of Treetops Hospice Trust, said: "We don't just open our arms up to the community, we wrap our arms around everyone who has to walk through our doors.

"This funding is the equivalent of what we need to raise for three local people to have the care of a hospice-at-home nurse every night for the next year, so this is truly going to have an impact.

"We are in challenging times at the moment, so we are incredibly grateful to have received these vital funds."

The charity aims to make every day count for patients and families living with life-limiting illnesses or affected by death and dying.

Julie said: "Our light shines bright within families who may lose a loved one due to illness and we often see them stay in touch with us and support in fundraising."

Giving an example, she said: "Nick Taylor sadly lost his wife, Wendy, earlier this year but remains a regular face at the charity and to have him here with us today, to hear the news of funding, has been incredible.

"Nick celebrated Wendy's birthday as well as his and Wendy's wedding anniversary this week, so it has been a difficult but special time for him."

Julie added: "We can't help to think Wendy must be looking down on us all, proud as punch."

Another local organisation awarded funding is:

• Breaston Women's Institute - £10,000 A local Women's Institute group providing women with the opportunity to make friends, learn, and support their community. They are proud to campaign and fundraise for the benefit of good causes.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Community Trust.

Thousands Of Supported Projects

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Community Trust. Supported by our players, this trust supports smaller charities and good causes in Wales to make a difference to their community for the benefit of people and planet.

With 33% of the ticket price going to Charities, our players have now raised more than £1.4 billion for good causes across Great Britain and internationally. People's Postcode Lottery players have funded thousands of deserving projects protecting people and the planet.

Have you signed up to play yet? Take a look at all the amazing Prizes our players can win. If you aren't sure how to join the fun, find out How It Works. It's really easy to sign up and play. With your help, we can support Charities which make a difference in people's lives every day.