A NEWLYWED British couple who found out about their win on their honeymoon revealed they almost stopped playing after bagging a previous scoop.
Married NHS workers Deborah and Paul won a “staggering “life-changing” £333,332 in the postcode lottery on Monday.
The Gateshead newlyweds bagged more than £3,000 each in a 2016 Postcode Millions event at a previous address.
Deborah was pleased with the small fortune and nearly convinced Paul to cancel their tickets.
But Paul was determined to continue with his monthly payments and even persuaded Deborah they play with two tickets each.
It paid off for the lucky couple who pocketed a handsome third of a million pounds earlier this week.
The pair’s good fortune followed another win they discovered when sunbathing in Gran Canaria on their honeymoon.
They found out they’d both landed £2,000 in the postcode lottery’s £1,000 Daily Prize draw in June.
Deborah said: “When we won the first time within a month or two of joining, I thought that would be it and we should just cancel but Paul refused and here we are.
“We could have said enough’s enough after that first win eight years ago.
ACCORDING to the official website, players sign up with their postcode and pay £12 per month.
They are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of the month.
Tickets play for prizes every day of the week – from Monday to Sunday, a ticket could win £1,000 each day in the Daily Prize.
Tickets could also win a jackpot of £30,000 in Saturday and Sunday’s Street Prize draws.
People’s Postcode Lottery also offer a £3 Million Postcode Millions draw each month – and your ticket plays for a share of a £3 Million cash prize fund.
Winners are notified by email, SMS message, mail or phonecall depending on the prize they win.
Jackpot winners are visited by the lottery team in person.
“Then we won £2,000 each in June. Even with those wins it’s been worthwhile.
“But we never, ever dreamed we’d end up with as much as this.”
Paul added: “You can’t win if you don’t play, and our life has just changed.”
The couple, who both work for the NHS, shared the £1 million jackpot with eight neighbours in Gateshead.
Each ticket was worth £83,333, but Deborah and Paul doubled their fortune as they cleverly played with two tickets each.
The couple share four children and five grandchildren and they aim to ramp up plans to look for a bigger home to accommodate their growing family.
Paul said: “You’re having a laugh. I thought the first cheque was the two amounts together.
“I need a chair! Thank you very, very, very, very much. It is absolutely fantastic.”
Deborah said: “We had been hoping to move house anyway. We’ve got a two-bedroom home and five grandchildren.
“We need another room, and this will go to that. I’m not often lost for words.
“It means so much for us, we can help the four children and five grandchildren. That’s what gives us happiness, if we can do things for the family.
Paul laughed, “There are five grandchildren at the moment, but they’re still working on it, so it’s only going to get worse!”
She explained the sweet coincidence: “We married on June 12, had an evening wedding party on July 12 and found out we’d won the lottery on August 12.
“When we go for a new house, we’ll have to try for a number 12.”
Now the couple are dreaming of more holidays with the cash – and might also treat themselves to a new motor.
