Westerleigh's £1m Postcode Lottery winners celebrate their windfalls with Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson(Image: Postcode Lottery)

Lucky neighbours share £1m win after one spotted 'spooky' sign

by · BristolLive

Lucky neighbours have shared a £1m lottery prize pot - after one spotted a "spooky" sign. Nine lucky winners are celebrating being quids in just before Christmas.

Their postcode in Westerleigh, South Gloucestershire, scooped the top prize in the People’s Postcode Lottery's weekly £1m Millionaire Street prize. Every ticket was was worth £90,909 - but two neighbours doubled their windfalls with two tickets.

One of the winners, Luke Packer, is splitting his prize with his mum Maria, who lives next door. Mum and son went halves on their ticket – and Luke says he has his late great-grandmother to thank for the win.

Maria, 54, started chipping in after her grandmother - Luke's great gran - Betty Smith passed away in 2018. And Luke said a photo of the 93-year-old – who died almost six years ago to the day - popped up on his phone ten minutes before he got a call to say he was a winner.

Luke, a nurse, said: “It was very odd. It’s very spooky. I’m sure she’s watching over us. It’s a very emotional day and very good at the same time.

“As soon as I found out I’d won she came to my mind straight away. I think she would have been over the moon…thrilled. She would have said ‘oh we haven’t, have we?’ She was partial to an Advocaat so she would have been getting it out tonight and having a few drinks.”

He added: “We lost my great gran in 2018…this is for her. I used to go halves on a ticket with her. When she died, I just thought I can’t let the ticket go. She saw an advert for Postcode Lottery and said, ‘tell you what, use the postcode you’re living at, and I’ll go halves every month’.

"After she passed my mum said she’d pay half if I still wanted to carry on playing, and we’ve been playing ever since."

Luke is now planning to finish transforming the end-terrace house he bought with girlfriend Milly Ford, 23. The 25-year-old, who has been given the all-clear after undergoing treatment for an aggressive form of skin cancer – said: “This has made my life, let alone Christmas. This is the sort of money you don’t come across that often and are unlikely to ever again. I feel fantastic, on top of the world.

“I just bought the house with my girlfriend two years ago and have kept at it slowly but surely. It needed rewiring, there were holes in the roof, and we need a new kitchen and bathroom. This is the icing on the cake. We’ll be able to get that now. My other half wants a bath, so she’ll get her bath."

He added: “A nice holiday maybe and a new car and we’ll see where life takes us.”

His parents, who have two other sons, will take more time to consider what to do with their half of the pot.

Scroll down to meet more of the winners

Sandie and Paul

Mum-of-two Sandie Bradley and bus driver husband Paul, 60, are dreaming of exotic holidays, futureproofing their home – and helping their son, daughter and three grandchildren. The retired systems trainer said: “I’m elated. We can think about our future. This will make an amazing difference.
“I would love to go to Australia, New Zealand or Canada…any one of those places. Now we can. A cruise to Singapore and the islands would be good, too."(Image: Postcode Lottery)

Fraser

IT manager Fraser Clark thought he had more chance of winning the lottery after his home was wrecked in a lightning strike 20 years ago – now he’s had both, calling it "amazing".
Fraser and family – wife Michelle, 50, daughter Gracie, 18, and son Alfie, 16 – had already booked the trip of a lifetime on Boxing Day for Michelle's 50th and Gracie's 18th. They are going to Canada, Las Vegas and Los Angeles and his win means they can now add to their plans.(Image: Postcode Lottery)

Heather

Mum-of-three Heather Harding, a Card Factory worker, plans to put some of her win towards a new hairdo and two bottles of Baileys for Christmas. She said: “Things like this don’t happen to me. I’m going to get my hair cut and get rid of my grey. A nice, layered bob, and nice brown colour. I can help family like I always do. There’ll be extra presents. You’ve got to. And two bottles of Baileys this Christmas!”(Image: Postcode Lottery)

Matt

Dad-of-two Matt is already dreaming of sunnier climes after banking £90,909. The car auctioneer, 43, said: “This is a pretty good Christmas present. I’ll probably think of a few things. A family holiday for one. It’s a long time since we’ve been abroad. Somewhere in Europe and somewhere warm and not so windy.

"It’ll be a good Christmas for the kids. And there may be a new car for my wife. She’s had her Seat Ibiza for eight years and is due an upgrade.”(Image: Postcode Lottery)

Julie

School supervisor Julie Weaver, 62, now hopes to embark on a Caribbean cruise and buy a new iPad and Apple watch. She said: “I can’t believe it is actually real. I’ve been playing since it started. We’re going to my daughter’s for Christmas and will have a good Christmas. There’ll be champagne and a lot of celebrating. I’ll most likely take my family on holiday, too."(Image: Postcode Lottery)