£75k Bonanza For Barnsley Winner

A Barnsley accountant's numbers are looking very healthy today after winning a massive £75,000.

Sarah Walker, 38, scooped the prize money after her postcode S71 2QP was drawn as a Saturday Street Prize winner.

The People's Postcode Lottery player from Bude Court in Barnsley signed up to play with three tickets, tripling her windfall.

"I hate to sound like a boring accountant, but I'll be investing my money wisely," she said. "I will buy a few extra Christmas presents this year, but the main thing is to find a new home with my boyfriend Andy. This money will make it easier for us to move up the property ladder."

Sarah signed up to play People's Postcode Lottery a year ago.

"That turned out to be a smart decision," she added. "One of my colleagues had recommended playing and I liked the idea of it. It feels great to win such an amazing prize, but it's also good to know that money is going to charity."

Not only is Sarah sensible with money, she is also organised for Christmas, having completed all her shopping. However, the lottery winner reckons there could be room for a few extra gifts in relatives' stockings this year after her win.

As a charity lottery, players have raised over £91 Million for good causes across Great Britain and internationally. One funded project local to Sarah in Barnsley is Barnsley Churches Drop-In Project, which received £3,360 from players to support the homeless and people with drug or alcohol problems. Youth Development also got £1,829 to develop an allotment project for 16- to 24-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training, to help them gain gardening skills.