Big Win For Wirral

A NURSE has been left buzzing after winning £320,000 - and now he wants to keep bees.

Jonas has longed to make his own honey after quitting his London hospital job to return home after 30 years.

Now he plans to invest in a hive after landing the 'life-changing' win just three months after signing up for Postcode Lottery - and doubling his prize with two tickets.

Jonas, of Moreton, in The Wirral, Merseyside, said, "I've wanted to keep bees. When I left London, I was like, 'I'm going up north and going to have a beehive and have my own honey.'"

He added, "I know that sounds really old and sad, but I always just wanted to keep bees. I will now."

Jonas landed the windfall with seven neighbours in Wirral - birthplace of stars including Strictly's Shirley Ballas, late TV presenter Paul O'Grady and Hollywood actor Taron Egerton - after CH46 7TU was announced as the winner of our £3.2m Postcode Millions prize today. Every ticket was worth £160,000, but Jonas and another neighbour doubled their winnings as they each played with two tickets.

A further 240 people playing in the wider Wirral postcode sector of CH46 7 received cheques ranging from £5,904 to £29,520, depending on how many tickets they played with.

Jonas told us of his shock after our lottery crew turned up at his door - after failing to read email messages that he'd won.

He said, "My heart is about to come out of my chest. It's a bit surreal. I didn't know you were coming! I'm actually speechless. Thank you so much.

"I joined up after getting a letter through the door. They normally go straight in the bin, but it just shows that they do work."

And he laughed, "I got two tickets because I thought that if next door was going to win I might as well have more than them.

"I can't even say it was one for me and one for the other half. It just didn't seem that expensive to have two, to be fair. I just thought that if I was going to win I might as well double up."

Jonas told us how he's already in the process of buying a new semi-detached house after moving back home to The Wirral to start work at a local hospital - while husband AJ continues to commute to the capital.

He said, "I was working in London and moved back up here. I've just found a house to move into, so everything is heading in the right direction. This is an added bonus.

"The first thing I'm going to do when we move is decorate. This will help a lot. I can decorate the house in the way I'd like to rather than decoration I'm compromising on.

"This is going to change quite a lot of things. It will change our lives."

Jonas revealed he only signed up in June and plays with two tickets.

He said, "I've only been playing for about three months since I lived here. I didn't really expect to win - and certainly not so soon. But it won't stop me from continuing to play.

"I know people must say it will never happen to them. It wasn't something I was doing to win, which sounds really stupid, but I'm really glad I did now. I never thought it would happen. It happens to other people. It's a big country with lots of postcodes!"

He added, "It's really nice to win with neighbours. Everyone knows everybody else here and it's nice to share it."

Jonas said the charity aspect of playing People's Postcode Lottery was the main driver for him.

He said, "I never win anything, I just thought I would help out local charities. It's something I could do to give something back."

Now he dreams of returning to South Africa where he spent a month in his youth and travelling around Europe with his hubby of two years.

He said, "We'll have a holiday... relax. I'd like to travel round Europe together.

"I went to South Africa as a child and I've always wanted to go back. I went to Johannesburg but didn't get down to the coast at the time. I stayed for a month with friends who lived there, but I ran out of time for the coast."

And hubby AJ might get the big TV he's been wanting. Jonas said, "We don't have a telly at the moment. Just because it is expensive and way down there on my list. I won't be able to argue against it now."

A few doors along, Steven turned to his father Ray and thanked him for persuading him to join People's Postcode Lottery after they each scooped a cheque for £160,000.

The Sainsbury's night shift shelf-stacker said, "My dad convinced me to join and now I've won quite a lot of money. Thanks, Dad, I'll treat you to a pint."

Ray said, "It's nice because he now has money for his future. He can plan for that."

The Ford car enthusiasts are now planning to buy motors - but not brand-new ones. Ray wants a Galaxy so he has more room on car journeys for Greyhound Lady and Millie, a Saluki breed. Son Steven wants a newer version of his current Mondeo.

Steven said, "Winning with family is amazing. Winning with neighbours feels great, too.

"This is money for the future. I'll treat my girlfriend and go on holidays. Maybe Spain, some nice sunshine. We can go on a family holiday and treat the rest of the family as well. I'd like to go to New York and visit there, too.

"I'd like a new version of my Ford Mondeo. I like them, I've never really had any problems with them."

He added, "I thought it would have been around £30,000, but it'll be interesting to see this in my bank account now."

Ray - who travelled all over the world as a Royal Navy seaman and radar operator - said he started playing to help charities.

He said, "We played the Postcode Lottery almost since it started. So much of the money goes to charity and that's the best thing in the world. If you win something, you win.

"I'll get a new car. We've got two dogs that we like to take out and the greyhound is a big girl.

"I've also got two daughters and an older lad. I'll give them a bit of money.

"Since we got the phone call to say we'd won there has just been a bit of anticipation and sleepless nights."

Ray still works in the fruit and veg department of his local Asda store and has no immediate plans to quit.

But the dad-of-four vowed, "I'm still going to be staying on at work until April next year when I am 75."

Now he wants to transform part of his big front lawn - which he has nicknamed Wembley Stadium - into a drive for the family cars. And wife Jan also wants the back garden sorted.

And he is looking forward to taking Jan on more holidays to their beloved Cornwall.

He said, "The north coast of Cornwall is gorgeous. We walk along the cliffs and things like that."

Jan laughed, "This is brilliant... I've spent it already."

She added, "The back garden needs doing. We've got arthritis in our knees and it's getting a bit much."

Two doors down, Shaun and his wife Aimee were left in shock when their whopping £160,000 win was revealed by lottery presenter Judie McCourt.

The couple are now dreaming of a new car and taking their three sons to Walt Disney World in Florida.

Window cleaner Shaun said, "I thought we'd won a couple of grand at most. When I saw the actual amount, I couldn't believe it. It's changed our life completely.

"We've been thinking about getting a new car for a while. Our youngest was already talking about a Tesla or a Range Rover.

"We'll go on a little holiday first, but we've always wanted to take the kids to Disney in Florida. It's something we've thought about for a while, and now we can make it happen."

He added, "I'll get a few beers and a day off tomorrow... a few days maybe!"

Women's clothes retailer Aimee said, "It's amazing. It's like living in a dream. I'm absolutely made up. We'll definitely be celebrating tonight."

Suzanne was left reeling after seeing her £160,000 cheque, then said she'd celebrate by tucking into her favourite ham and pineapple pizza.

The retired sales assistant said, "It's brilliant, isn't it?! I'm gobsmacked! I said I'd be happy if I won a thousand pounds. I've just got the shock of my life! My legs are shaking!"

She added, "I don't drink, I just eat pizzas. I'm definitely going to be getting lots of pizzas in!"

Suzanne, who has been playing for more than 10 years, also plans to make some exciting changes to her flat.

She said, "I've been living here for almost 30 years now. I'm going to fully redecorate the whole flat and get it recarpeted."

And she added with a laugh, "I can hire a decorator now!"

Local Charities Benefit

Local good causes close to the winners in Wirral have benefitted from money raised by Postcode Lottery players.

Ahead Of The Game Foundation received £25,000 in funding last year. This vital funding provided training and equipment for the charity's staff to run free weekly physical therapy sessions for people living with cancer in Merseyside.

Supporting Good Causes

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Support Trust. Supported by our players, this trust provides regular grant funding to organisations that support people who need help to live happy and more fulfilled lives. Benefitting charities include Depaul UK, Kinship and Missing People.

With People's Postcode Lottery, 33% of the ticket price goes to Charities. Our amazing players have raised more than £1.3 billion for thousands of good causes.

Do you have your subscription to People's Postcode Lottery? If you aren't playing yet, check out How It Works and the wonderful Prizes that can be won. Why not sign up today and join the fun?