Big Bucks For Billingham

Seven neighbours in Billingham are celebrating after picking up £30,000 each. The windfall comes after the players' postcode, TS23 1ND, was drawn as the winner of Sunday's Street Prize.

Charity worker Dawn said, "It's amazing to hold a cheque for £30,000 in your hands. It's something that you dream about.

"I've got five children, so I'll be able to treat them, and it would be great to book a holiday now that I can afford to go away."

Dawn thinks it's great that neighbours win together, but she added, "My son who lives a few doors away is really gutted that he never signed up to play People's Postcode Lottery."

Nikki, who works as an administrator in a local college, said, "I'm starting the year off in a way that I couldn't have imagined. Last year was difficult because I lost my mother, but I believe that she's sent me some luck from up there.

"I've thought about a million-and-one different things to spend this money on, but I'll definitely get a new car because my current one is fifteen years old. The rest of it will stay in the bank."

Mary is looking forward to a holiday this year. She said, "We always go to Benidorm, and this year will be no different! It's beautiful and we really enjoy going there. I don't really need anything else so I'll help my children out. I've got two sons and a daughter."

Alison, Bernadette, and Ken also received their £30,000 cheques. The final winner was unavailable, but their prize money will be transferred directly into their bank account.

Street Prize Presenter Judie McCourt congratulated the lucky players. She said, "It's fantastic that winners on this one street in Billingham shared an incredible £210,000. If your postcode is drawn as a winner, don't be the neighbour that didn't win. With £130 Million of prizes this year, sign up to play now and I could be knocking on your door."

To date, £263 Million has been raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery for over 4,000 good causes across Great Britain and internationally.

A local cause that has received support from players is Teesmouth Field Centre. The group was awarded £4,244 last year to help clean up a local stretch of beach.

Two other players were lucky this weekend after scooping £30,000 each in Saturday's Street Prize.