Chester Le Street's Millionaire Street

An adoring husband has netted his wife half-a-million pounds after buying two winning People's Postcode Lottery tickets - in her name. Stunned Alison won £500,000 thanks to husband Gary signing up with their postcode.

The couple are one of three neighbours in Chester Le Street celebrating after their postcode, DH2 2XP, scooped our weekly Millionaire Street prize.

It's Unbelievable

The mum-of-two wept when People's Postcode Lottery Presenter Judie McCourt revealed her two prize cheques. Alison said, "I assumed we had one ticket each, I didn't even know they were in my name.

"We'd have been dead happy with £2,000. It's unbelievable!

"At my time of life, it's life-changing. I could retire."

Primary school caretaker Gary struggled to hold back tears when he saw the amount his wife had won - but regained his composure and joked, "I had a bit of dust in my eye."

He said, "The reason I signed her up is because I want her to have everything. I expected it to be a cheque for £1,000 and I would have enjoyed buying a few knick-knacks."

The couple, who have been together for over 25 years, are set to splash the cash on family, including their two sons, Russell and Brendan. Alison said, "They'll be made up for us - it'll secure their futures.

"This means so many nice things to our family and we're a very strong family. We work together.

"We'll have to sit Gary's mum down when we tell her - she nearly collapsed when I told her I was pregnant. She poured tea all over the cornflakes."

Gary added, "We were actually wondering if we could get some money together to get Brendan a car to celebrate him graduating."

New Wheels

The four-wheeled purchases won't just stop with their son, as motor enthusiast Gary has his eye on a classic Mini. Alison said, "He'll be after a Mini Cooper. He classes them as investments. He says having a classic car is better than money in the bank minus the breakdowns."

Gary, who worked for car giant Nissan for over 20 years, said, "I have seen a 1960s Mini all restored. I love my old classics and I like working on cars in the garage."

Alison is also planning to treat herself to some new wheels after having rented an electric bike while on a recent holiday to Majorca. She said, "The electric bike was fantastic but they're very expensive. It's definitely more than just a purchase, it's a treat."

Their windfall will go towards a family holiday to Key West in Florida, but Alison also thought they could make the journey to her dream destination. She said, "I'd love to go to Norway. I've honestly never really thought it would be a reality though, but now I guess we can.

"We like climbing, so Norway with the mountains, landscape and cool fresh air would be a dream."

The family cat is even set to share in their good fortune. Alison teased, "It'll be smoked salmon for tea tonight and tomorrow."

Alison was thrilled that she wasn't winning alone. She said, "It's just a small postcode and it's lovely to know our neighbours have won as well.

"I'm still in shock, you think it just happens to others not the street we live on."

People's Postcode Lottery Presenter Judie McCourt said, "I had an amazing time surprising Alison and Gary on my first visit to a winning postcode in our Millionaire Street prize. It's a whopping weekly prize and the sun was definitely shining down on three lucky winners on Birch View."

She added, "I love visiting winners in the North East, it's my home and it's also where People's Postcode Lottery began."

Good Causes Everywhere

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Care Trust (opens in a new tab). Supported by our players, this trust provides grant funding to organisations that work to improve the health and lives of communities. Benefiting charities include Maggie's, Breast Cancer Now and Carers Trust.

With 33% of the ticket price going to deserving projects, players of People's Postcode Lottery have now raised more than £1.1 Billion for thousands of charities and good causes across Great Britain, as well as internationally.

Have you been thinking about playing People's Postcode Lottery but not set up your subscription yet? There are Prizes announced every day! Find out more about How It Works. Sign up to play and join the fun.