Darwen neighbours win £540K on People’s Postcode Lottery

Eighteen people on a street, once visited by former political leader Mahatma Gandhi, won £30,000 each in the People's Postcode Lottery’s weekly Street Prize after the winning postcode was announced as BB3 2HS. Some of the winners halted traffic as they celebrated in the road outside their homes.  

One player, Emma Hannon, 35, summed up the mood, saying: “It’s amazing to win with our neighbours. We’ve all been talking to each other and it’s really brought the street together. 

 “We’re already quite close, everyone is so friendly. It’s a really good neighbourhood and everyone looks out for each other, so it is incredible to share this win.” 

Gandhi stayed overnight at a house in Spring Vale Garden Village when he visited a local textile mill during a UK trip in September 1931. There is now a blue plaque on the house. 

Ghandi visited Darwen in 1931 (Image: NQ)

Now the street, which is split into two different postcodes, is buzzing for a different reason after Postcode Lottery ambassador Judie McCourt dished out winning cheques to the players.

Mark Allen, 36, is planning to get a new gaming tattoo to celebrate his win. The dad-of-one already has a mural of artwork covering his right leg, including Pac-Man, Super Mario, Assassin’s Creed, Fallout and Silent Hill. 

Mark Allen with wife, Francesca (Image: People's Postcode Lottery)

Now, he wants to get a Sonic the Hedgehog tattoo to please his two-year-old son – and he may include the Postcode Lottery logo in the design. 

The surface repair technician, who picked up the cheque with NHS worker wife Michaela, 33, said: “This is unbelievable. It’s all I’ve been thinking about. 

 “I like gaming tattoos. I might get Sonic this time. My little boy loves that. Off the top of my head, I might also get the lottery logo in there. I’ll tell the tattooist what I want and he’ll do a good job.” 

Mark Allen's gaming tattoo (Image: People's Postcode Lottery)

He added: “We’re also going to go on holiday in the winter when it’s cold here.” 

Denise Langford, 58, revealed one of her grandsons wants her to spend her new fortune on a bottle of juice. 

The mum-of-three said: “One of my grandsons wants a bottle of Prime WWE. We’ll probably go on holiday, too. My grandchildren want to go to Florida.” 

Denise cuddled into fellow winner Emma Arthur, 27, and hubby Chris, 33, who is best mates with Denise’s son. 

Denise with neighbours and pals Chris and Emma (Image: People's Postcode Lottery)

Denise said: “It was amazing to win with everyone else. These two have been brilliant. We’ve been so excited texting and ringing each other.” 

Emma, who works in the family construction firm, and Chris are just back from honeymoon on the Greek isle of Santorini after tying the knot last month. 

Now the couple, who have two daughters aged one and three, want to spruce up their end-terrace home. 

Self-employed dryliner Chris said: “We’ll get the garden done and the drive, and keep some money in the bank for a rainy day.” 

Emma added: “It’s not every day that someone gives you £30,000.” 

Stunned Julie Kelsall and hubby Carl Hallworth landed £30,000 each and plan to extend their home to create room for their seven grandchildren and three dogs. 

Full-time carer Julie, 55, said: “We’ll get the house sorted out. We got an extension, but we still need more rooms. We’ve got four bedrooms but need more. We’ll probably go up the way!”

Electrician Neil Westhead and fiancee Hayley Ryan (Image: People's Postcode Lottery)

HGV driver Carl, 48, said: “We had convinced ourselves that we’d just be winning £1,000.” 

Mum-of-one Emma Hannon shared the joy with warehouse operative partner Darren Glover, 34, then said: “We can use this to make memories.” 

Amputee Ross Levett, 41, is planning to treat pals to a lads’ holiday in Majorca later this year. 

The vape firm worker said: “I’ve not been away this year. I might organise a lads’ weekend in Majorca. They’ve treated me enough in the past, so it’s probably my turn to treat them. 

"I might also look into a new bathroom. I’ve been needing one of them for a couple of years.”

He added: “It’s fantastic to win with the neighbours. There’s no jealousy because everyone has won.” 

Sheila Middlehurst found out she’d won when she and hubby Steve, 71, were filling the car with petrol on a caravan holiday in Wales. 

Sheila, 70, said: “We own a static caravan in Ruthin, Wales, and we were getting petrol when my phone rang when I went to pay.” 

The couple plan to treat their family and might get new wheels to navigate the narrow road to their caravan site. 

Mum-of-one Sheila said: “It means we can treat the three grandchildren. The eldest granddaughter is getting married in October. The middle one just graduated and the third one graduates next year. There’ll be a treat for them all.

She added: We might treat ourselves to a better car.” 

Mum-of-three Yvonne Hampson, 60, said she needs to trade in her Ford Focus for a bigger car to accommodate her seven grandchildren. 

The nursery childcare assistant said: “This means a lot. I’ve never won anything in my life. 

I need a new car. I’ve been looking and I don’t know what to get…maybe a Nissan X-Trail.” 

At the bottom of the street, Neil Westhead, 32, revealed his win came just weeks after signing up. 

The electrician, who got engaged to hairdresser Hayley Ryan, 33, last March, said: “This feels great, fantastic.  

“We just bought the house three months ago and started playing Postcode Lottery as soon as we moved in. I got a £10 prize the first month and now £30,000!” 

A few houses up, mum-of-three Cathy Rowles, 51, said the cash will go towards holidays she already has lined up. 

The mental health support worker is set to jet off to South Africa, the Greek isle of Lesbos for a friend’s wedding and a break with work pals in Benalmadena in Spain. 

She said: “This will help towards the holidays. Hopefully I might get on a Med cruise next year now. I’m still in a bit of shock.”