Joy For Newhaven

Janet broke down in tears when she was presented with her cheque. She said: “I played Postcode Lottery at my previous address. I remembered late to change it when I moved in here. I was already here when I remembered.

“I would have been devastated if I had forgotten. This has completely changed everything for this year. It’s amazing, but it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

She added: “I’ve done the Postcode Lottery for years. All my family do.”

Janet and two neighbours celebrated after BN9 9DU in Newhaven landed our monthly £250,000 prize today.  Every ticket was worth a whopping £250,000.

The retired foster carer, who looked after 35 children over 12 years, says the win has changed her fortunes after a really tough year.

Mum Vera passed away in January, aged 99. Then Janet was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a rare type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.

The gran-of-nine said: “I lost mum in January which enabled me to buy this place. Then I was diagnosed with blood cancer. But I’m doing well at the moment. I’m keeping fit and well and I’m not starting any treatment yet.

Janet said: “This place has brought me so much luck. This year has been so bad with the diagnosis and mum. But this is just amazing!

“My mum and dad lived over the bay and dad was a fisherman and had a boat in the marina. He took fishing parties out in his boat, Ocean Pearl.”

She added: “I moved here to have a nice, peaceful life. I enjoy it here with all the boats.”

Now Janet will treat herself to a new bathroom, add to her art deco collection and spoil the family.

Talking on her balcony as the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry sailed up the Ouse, she said: “This is a lot of money to me. I’m shaking. I’ve been wanting a new bathroom. The current one is 20 years old. There is an art deco lady (figurine) I like which I’ll buy. It costs around £400. Then I shall be contemplating what I’m going to do next.

“I’ve got four grown-up children and nine grandchildren. It’s going to be a nice Christmas.”

And, as she cuddled chihuahuas Eddie and Nellie and sphynx cat Flo, she added: “There will definitely be treats for my two dogs and cat, too.”

In the next block of apartments, Tessa Langham told how she thought her winnings would be around £2,000. And then lottery ambassador Matt Johnson turned up with a staggering cheque for £250,000.

The kind-hearted great-gran, who is getting ready to move to Devon to be nearer to son Russell, said she will help her family with the cash.

Widowed Tessa, who once lived next door to actor Sir Laurence Olivier in Brighton, said: “I was expecting about £2,000. I think this is fantastic. It’s something I’d never dreamed of. It’s a wonderful feeling that I’ve managed to be so fortunate.

“I will think about it very hard and do something very meaningful, like helping the family. It is a wonderful position to be in to be able to do that. Hopefully I can do something nice with it for other people. I’d like to be benevolent with it as much as I can.”

She added: “I’ve had a good life; it has been very interesting. I’ve been very lucky in my life.”