In an eerie prediction, Elaine Thompson was told she’d win money – just weeks after she canceled her subscription to the contest.
The superstitious 58-year-old quickly re-enlisted – and won a prize of £12,050.
The lucky winner will be just one of 572 locals sharing a £10.2 million prize pool in Middlesbrough.
Residents of the TS5 zip code celebrated the handing of checks at a party in the city center on Saturday (April 1).
They were told in advance that they had won a minimum of £4K, but to this day had no idea exactly how much. Everyone who entered the lottery won at least £12,050 each.
Elaine, a former foster parent, said, “The fortune teller predicted that I would bring in a considerable amount of money.”
‘I had just canceled the Postcode Lottery. A few days later I recovered the ticket.
‘I can’t thank the clairvoyant enough – without her I would have missed it.
“I’m going to spoil my family and take my daughters to Fuerteventura.”
Grandparents Brian and Karen Wing hit the £379,418 jackpot after being convinced the good news was a scam.
Retired building officer Brian, 68, said: ‘I was sitting in the pub whilst on holiday in Northumberland when I got the call.
‘I didn’t believe it at first. You think it’s a scam.
‘I didn’t even call them back. Then I got a letter, and even then I wasn’t sure if it was real. You don’t want to get your hopes up.
“To have won this amount is life-changing.”
Retired administrative typist Karen, 64, added: ‘It’s still sinking in.
“We plan to buy a motorhome and travel to Scotland.”
Trucker Mark Baker, 54, no longer has to work up to 70 hours a week after winning £379,418.
Mark said, ‘Working fewer hours is going to make such a difference in my life.
‘I have a pond with koi carp, so I’m going to buy some fish too. £400,000 can buy a lot of fish!’
John and Anne Goodman travel business class to visit their daughter in Melbourne, Australia after winning the £379,000 grand prize.
Retired social housing worker Anne, 66, said: ‘We came here today thinking we’d won £4K. Walking away with almost £400,000 is astounding.”
Seven lucky residents of Britain Avenue won £379,418 each, thanks to playing with the entire winning postcode – TS5 7AT.
A further 565 in the area won prizes ranging from £12,050 to £72,300.
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