A GOLD Rush has hit Bere Alston yet again as three lucky lottery players received cheques for a quarter of a million pounds each — coming at just the right time for two residents facing job uncertainty.

The big wins from the People’s Postcode Lottery, announced last week, prove that the village is fast becoming one of the luckiest places in Britain as two millionaires were made from winning National Lottery tickets bought in the village shop over the past two years.

The latest wins saw People’s Postcode Lottery ambassadors Danyl Johnson and Matt Johnson knock on the door of Bere Alston mother and son Wayne Jewell and Fern Hughes on Friday to inform them they had scooped one of the biggest cash prizes after their postcode was announced in February’s Postcode Millions draw. They won £250,000 each, by playing two tickets from the same house.

The duo said the win couldn’t have come at a better time as Fern was facing redundancy from her factory job this summer and Wayne, who was in a life-threatening motorbike accident last year, had been unable to work since.

Wayne, 32, said: ‘I’d love to buy a house as I currently live with my mum. Because of the crash, I’ve not been working, so this will help with loss of earnings.

Recalling his accident, Wayne said: ‘I was hit by a car and woke up in hospital with a broken pelvis in three places, both my wrists were fractured and I had bleeding in my brain and bladder.

‘I was in hospital for 13 days. It was a life-changing accident but this win will also make my life change again — for the better. It’s absolutely phenomenal.

‘The accident won’t stop me riding again because it wasn’t my fault. I’ll now be able to afford to buy another bike. I’d always wanted to go to America and do Route 66 and this would be the perfect time to do it.’

Fern, 62, who works in a local factory making desserts, said she no longer had to worry about her impending redundancy.

She said: ‘I’ll now be able to buy this house outright and do it up before I sell it. I’d really like to get a small bungalow for myself.

‘I’m going to make this win last as long as possible and just enjoy myself.

‘Wayne signed us both up to play People’s Postcode Lottery two years ago after a friend won and I can’t believe it’s happened to us.’

Another £250,000 winner on the same street was Kenneth Hunt, 75, and his partner Christine.

Kenneth, a retired school caretaker, said: ‘This is amazing. We’ve never seen this kind of money before. We’re going to get our windows done and go on holiday. When we come back we might consider moving further along the coast.’

There were also another two big winners on the same lucky street.

It was a second win for neighbours from Horrabridge, whose postcode got drawn. Last March, seven people on Phoenix Close scooped the £30,000 Street Prize — this latest draw daw them each win £2,479 per ticket.

Nearly 540 players in the postcode sector PL20 7 won a share of the £3-million prize pot, with other prizes ranging from £2,479 to £500,000.

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson said: ‘This has been another fantastic Postcode Millions and we want to congratulate all the winners across West Devon.

‘Thank you for playing People’s Postcode Lottery because not only have you won but all the charities that you’ve helped support have also won.’

A minimum of 32% from each ticket goes to charity and so far People’s Postcode Lottery players have raised an incredible £393-million for more than 5,500 charities and good causes in Great Britain and internationally.

The Postcode Millions draw was held on behalf of Postcode Innovation Trust, which supports charities and social enterprises across Britain.

To find out more, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk