Residents were overjoyed after receiving news of their win in the People’s Postcode Lottery’s biggest ever prize fund and are planning a special year of festivities for their families

A street full of lucky neighbours shared an £8.4 million jackpot after winning the People’s Postcode Lottery’s biggest ever prize fund just days before Christmas.

Nine residents bagged £342,375 and a tenth won £684,750 after playing with two tickets, as Champagne bottles popped around their houses.

A total of 537 other players won cash prizes ranging from £7,522 to a further £22,566 in the People’s Postcode Lottery.

The lucky winners in Cliffe near Rochester, Kent shared a total of £8.4million.

It was already an emotional day for six-figure winner Marion Milton, who was attending her brother Murray’s memorial service that afternoon.

She said: “His daughter picked the date as today is his birthday and then when I found out the lottery was coming, I thought: ‘Thank you Murray.'”

Marion plans to use some of the money to visit her son in Australia for the first time in three years.

She added: “We never thought in our wildest dreams, though, we’d be a winner. Never. I still can’t get over it. I think I need a stiff drink.”

Marion joked that the win meant her husband could get her another gift for the festive season.

She said: “He bought me a new ring for Christmas which was silver, but we might need to up the ante a bit and upgrade to white gold.”

Taxi driver Paul Laker, 61, and his wife Alison, 57, were stunned into silence when they were told they had both won £342,375.

Alison said: “It’s amazing that everybody can have a lovely Christmas after the last two years being so tough.

“It would be nice to say we’ll spend it on a holiday. Our holiday to Florida has been cancelled a couple of times due to Covid, so now we can make it extra special.”

Retired teacher Simon Clarke was so surprised he had to stop himself from falling.

The 65-year-old said: “Oh my gosh! Have you got a medic handy? I’ve just gone weak at the knees. That is fantastic. We can help a few people with that. I’m speechless, lost for words.”

Great grandmother Betty Reilly was left in tears when the lottery ambassador surprised her on her doorstep.

She said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet, I don’t think. How wonderful! What a wonderful thing to happen at Christmas.”

Since 2005, the People’s Postcode Lottery, which supports charities and players, has raised more than £800m for 9,000 charities and good causes.