Residents in Hoo are celebrating this weekend after they scooped £300,000 with the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Their postcode, ME3 9LH, was announced as a winner today, with eight of the lucky residents netting £30,000 each, and a ninth doubling their prize to £60,000 thanks to playing with two tickets.

The winners found out how much they’d won over video calls with People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador, Judie McCourt.

Michele Witham, 58, was the lucky player netting £60,000.

And Michele, who is recently unemployed, was tearful when she found out how much she had won.

“Oh wow! That’s amazing," she said. "I can’t believe it. I feel so happy I want to skip down the close!

“That has actually made my whole year. Oh gosh I have a runny nose now. I can’t take it in.”

She added: “I’ve got three daughters, three grandchildren and two step sons. This means we can have a lovely Christmas after such a rotten year. It means so much. I can’t even talk, I have a lump in my throat."

Michele’s partner was at work when she took the call, but she planned to surprise him with the news.

She added: “He usually cooks dinner every day, so I’m going to go out tonight and buy a special dinner and get his favourite wine. He will wonder what on earth is going on!”

Construction company worker, Sharon Griffin, was shocked when she caught glimpse of her £30,000 cheque.

The 51-year-old said: “Wow! Never in a million years did I think I would get one.”

With her daughter on the phone throughout the reveal, Sharon explained how she would first spend the money: “Me and my daughter can go on a proper spa day, it’s my birthday next week so even better!"

Sharon was at work when she received the call, so she had some excited colleagues to share the good news with, adding: “Everyone in the office is waiting for me upstairs so we might need to have some champagne later!”

32-year-old gas engineer, Patrick Speller, was hard at work when he received the call, and had to pull up in his van.

“I’m speechless and amazed," he said, "it’s going to change our lives that’s for sure. This isn’t a wind up is it?!”

Patrick plans to use the money to treat his family to a dream holiday.

He added: “I can look at booking Disney for my daughter. She will absolutely love that! When we can, we will definitely go on holiday, that will be the number one thing.

“It just feels like I don’t have to worry.”

“I’d told my wife I was getting this call, but I can’t just text her to say I’ve won 30 grand! She will be over the moon.

“There will definitely be a takeaway for dinner tonight to treat the family, we’ll just have a bit of fun!”

Retired Roy Croucher was with his wife Maggie when he found out how much he had won, and the couple hope to go on holiday and help out their family.

Maggie said: “Wow! Fantastic. We’ll have a socially distanced applause with all of our neighbours!”

63-year-old Roy added: “I didn’t think we’d get that much!”

“We would go on holiday but they keep getting cancelled! We will save some for when the world gets going again though.

"We’ll also put some into an account for our grandchildren. They’re young now but we can keep it aside and they can get their first car with it.”

When asked how they would be celebrating, Roy joked: “I can’t really celebrate as I’m getting my flu jab this afternoon!”

Maggie added: “Well I will have a glass of champagne! I always have some in the fridge just in case.”

The five remaining winners chose to remain anonymous but their £30,000 prize will be paid into their bank account.

Meanwhile in Rochester, four people in James Street are celebrating today after winning £1,000 each thanks to their lucky postcode ME1 2BY being announced as a Daily Prize winner yesterday.

A minimum of 32% of ticket sales goes directly to charities and players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £600 million to date for thousands of good causes in Britain and beyond.

For more information on People’s Postcode Lottery visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk or Facebook and Twitter.

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