Neighbours in Mansfield and Mansfield Woodhouse scoop over £500,000 on lottery in just two days

Seventeen neighbours pocketed a cheque for £30,000 each when postcodes NG18 3BG and NG19 9AU were announced as winners with People’s Postcode Lottery on August 4 and 5 respectively.

Katie and Eli Scrase, who are husband and wife and celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary this year, both play with one ticket each, making their household £60,000 better off.

Katie, 35, said: “When I opened it I thought it must be a mistake.

"I was shocked, in disbelief and excited – every emotion you can think of we’ve gone through.

“It’s life changing for us, it’s just made our lives so much easier.

"We’ve got two kids who are nine and 11 and they’ve already written a list.

"My son has asked for a Ferrari and my daughter has asked for a pony so they’re really excited.

"They don’t understand the figure but they know it’s enough to make our life better.

“We’ve not been abroad in about three years, so it would be nice to go somewhere warm next year and take my mum and my dad with us, as they’ve been so good to us.”

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Another married couple, Margaret and Graham Donkin, also play with one ticket each, and are still trying to decide how they will spend their winnings.

Graham, 48, said: “I’ve spent the money ten times over in my head and still can’t decide what to do.

“We moved house just before lockdown began so it’s come at the perfect time.

"We have three young grandkids and two children so they will definitely want treated.”

People’s Postcode Lottery costs £10 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day.

People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.

Michael Sharpe, 50, found out he’d won when he was on a break from work as a driver.

He said: “I got a phone call from my daughter Abbie and she asked me if she could open the golden envelope from Postcode Lottery.

"She said, ‘there’s a cheque in and you’ve just won thirty grand.’ I said, ‘don’t talk daft’ – I thought it was a wind up.

“It’s surreal – you don’t expect a value like that to be given to you.

"You save up and save up and then there it is in my hand already.

"I’ve been after a new car and I might use it for a deposit on a house too.”

Smita Patabendige, 37, was thrilled with her £30,000 cheque.

She said: “It feels unreal, I still can’t digest the fact I have won.

“My two young children have a list of things already, from games and toys to scooters and skateboards. I’m looking forward to treating them.

“A part of this will go to charity too.

I’m from India and my husband is from Sri Lanka – there are a lot of people there who aren’t looked after like us so we’d love to help.

"It’s lovely to share the money with those who don’t have as much as we do."

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson spoke to some of the Mansfield winners over video call.

He said: “A huge congratulations to all of our Mansfield winners.

“Over half a million pounds in two days for one area is pretty incredible.

"I hope everyone enjoys spending their prize money and treats themselves.

"I’m sure there will be a few celebrations in Mansfield over the next few weeks.”

A minimum of 32 per cent of ticket sales goes directly to charities and players of People’s Postcode Lottery have helped raise more than £500 million to date for good causes across Great Britain and internationally.

For details of the charities and good causes which are promoting and benefitting from the lottery draws, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes/draw-calendar.