A Great Deal

Over 1,400 people in Deal are celebrating after their postcode area, CT14 9, shared a £11.2 Million prize pot in October's Postcode Millions.

Three residents on London Road landed the biggest prizes after their postcode - CT14 9PR - was announced as the full winning postcode.

One player with two tickets bagged a whopping £784,834 - and two neighbours have each won £392,417.

The 1,405 remaining players in the area received cheques ranging from £6,113 to £36,678, depending on how many tickets they played with.

All Shook Up

Elvis fans Judy and Scott couldn't believe their luck when they found out they'd netted £392,417. And they credit their success to an incredible house move.

Last year, the pair decided to switch their quiet village surroundings of Hartley for the livelier town of Deal. And they said it's undoubtedly the best move they've ever made.

Gobsmacked Judy said, "We moved to Deal on a whim, and it's turned out to be the best decision we've ever made - and it's just got even better."

"I feel like I'm still dreaming. We're just normal people, we work hard and didn't expect anything like this to actually happen."

Despite playing People's Postcode Lottery for years, Judy and Scott only moved in 20 months ago and it's not all been plain sailing since the pair arrived. With a leaky roof, a boiler on the blink and winter fast approaching, Judy was the first to admit that October has been challenging.

"We've had a heating engineer out three times this week and he told us the boiler was on its last legs," said Judy, an executive assistant for a finance company.

"Now we don't have to save up for a new one!"

Now the couple's stunning change in fortune means they plan on jet-setting to their dream destinations. Judy said, "I'm an Elvis fan so I'd like to do a Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans trip and Scott's always wanted to do Alaska.

"And we'd been talking about taking his 19-year-old son Kody and his girlfriend Sophie to Florida next year, too."

When the couple moved into their semi on London Road, the first people they met were next-door neighbours Richard and Sue.

"The moving truck had just left the drive when they knocked on the door with a takeaway menu for us and said they were going to the pub, and we were welcome to join them. We did and they were so lovely - they introduced us to everybody."

FaceTime Fortune

Winners Richard and Sue were away visiting family in Hertfordshire when Judy discovered how much they'd both won so she video-called them to reveal the amount instead.

"I'm gutted they're not here, it would've been lovely to share it with them," she said.

Instead, Judy and Scott were planning to hit the town on Saturday night for a glass of bubbly or two with fellow winners. They know many of the winners in the winning postcode area. Judy said, "Deal will be rocking today because everyone will be out celebrating.

"And because the money is spread out, everyone will benefit as we'll all be buying drinks and meals and getting jobs done indoors."

With so many people turning up to a special winners' event at Walmer Green to collect their prize cheques, word of who'd won soon got round.

Shelling Out

One of the first winners to find out how much she'd won was Tina, the owner of Deal Shellfish Stall.

She played with two tickets so scooped £12,226 - money she's planning to use to fly to Illinois in the US next year to see her son Stuart and toddler grandson Louis for the first time in over a year.

Family Fortunes

Multiple players in a family also took home large cash prizes. 'Nanny' Annie, her son Mark, and her son-in-law Jason each pocketed cheques for £6,113.

Bursting Into Song

One of the oldest winners was 93-year-old Fraser, a retired mining engineer, who won a whopping £12,226 with his two lottery tickets.

Fraser still performs regularly with his sea shanty band Kellet Gut to raise funds for local charities and was joined by a few of his fellow performers to collect his cheque.

He said, "I've got five grandchildren so I'm going to make sure I treat them all. I'll also make sure me and my friends have a couple of cocktails this afternoon at the pub to celebrate."

Perfect Timing

Another fundraiser who'd had a much-deserved stroke of luck was care home manager Jo who also collected £6,113.

She recently completed a 75km trek across the Jordanian desert to raise £18,000 for Breast Cancer Now.

Jo said, "We've got a big family holiday coming up so it's amazing timing to win this money."

People's Postcode Lottery Presenter Matt Johnson said, "It was a phenomenal Saturday on the beautiful Kent coastline surprising hundreds of winners with thousands of pounds!

"Congratulations to all the Deal winners sharing £11.2 Million, the second biggest prize pot in our history."

Thousands Of Deserving Projects

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Support Trust (opens in a new tab). This trust provides regular grant funding to organisations which support people who need help to live happy and more fulfilled lives. Supported charities include Crisis, Missing People and Royal Voluntary Service.

Local good causes have also benefited from player support. This year, East Kent Education Business Partnership was awarded £25,000. The charity aims to connect young people with opportunities, helping them transition from education to employment.

33% of the ticket price goes to charities and good causes. To date, players have raised more than £1.1 Billion for thousands of deserving projects worldwide. Our players are changing lives every day, helping people and the planet. Thank you for all your support - we really couldn't do it without you.

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