Gary netted a slice of the £1million from the People’s Postcode Lottery the same day as a plumbing crisis hit his home in Devon.

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Gary shared the whopping prize with four fortunate neighbours in Wolwell – all of whom live in postcode PL6 7SU.

The appliance engineer received a call from the lottery agency informing him of an imminent visit.

But his day took a dramatic turn when his wife Elaine discovered a leak in the ceiling.

Gary explained: “We were waiting on the Postcode Lottery coming and then Elaine found a leak in the ceiling, so it’s been a bit of a crisis.”

Elaine then called her nephew, Corben, who owns a plumbing and heating company, to address the emergency.

Little did he know he was in for a shocking surprise when presenter Matt Johnson unveiled Gary’s life-changing cheque.

In disbelief, Corben said: “I literally didn’t even know.

“No one had even told me that the Postcode Lottery were coming, everyone in the family knew but me.

“To be there and watch him get that, it’s unbelievable. Mental money.”

But Gary was so lucky he didn’t have to pay for the repairs.

To add to their winnings, Corben assured the family that the repairs would be for free.

He added: “I’m buzzing for them, it’s life-changing. But I can’t charge them – it’s my auntie and uncle, isn’t it?”

Gary now plans to splash the cash on a holiday to Benidorm in two weeks.

He said, “I’ll go and play golf in Portugal and maybe go to a football tournament in Portugal. Maybe. If I’m allowed.”

The loving husband also plans to treat Elaine with a spa weekend in Bath with her sister and niece.

Gary said, “I just can’t believe the amount and the people that have won it on the street as well.”

Another winner of the People’s Postcode Lottery – who this week secured £12,000 a month for a year – didn’t always have the best luck.

Retired NHS nurse Meg Carr, 69, and her husband Andy were kicked out their home in 1992 and weren’t able to buy it back for 22 years.

How does People’s Postcode Lottery work?

THERE is potential for players to win some big cash prizes with People’s Postcode Lottery – but how does it work?

People’s Postcode Lottery is an ongoing monthly subscription lottery where paid tickets are automatically entered into all of its prize draws.

Players can purchase up to three tickets to play in its draws, with each ticket based on their chosen postcode. It costs £12 per month to play.

Prizes are announced every single day – and 33 per cent of the ticket price goes to good causes.

Prizes include £1million shared in one winning postcode every Saturday, £30,000 for every winning ticket in one postcode every Sunday, and a multi-million-pound prize is shared in one postcode area each month.

This month, Meg won “An Unforgettable Year”, claiming £12,000 each month for a year. She can also choose from a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences – in Britain or abroad.

The prize was promoted on behalf of the Postcode Support Trust which supports organisations including Missing People, Depaul UK and Royal Voluntary Service.

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