Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

A total of 435 residents living in Rhymney have shared in a lottery win worth £3.7 million.

The winners, all living in the NP22 5 area, won the People’s Postcode Lottery draw on Saturday May 28.

Nine neighbours from Pen-y-Dre shared the largest portion of the prize after their postcode, NP22 5DL, was named as the full winning postcode.

Edward ‘Ted’ Owen, 76, who plays with two tickets won £370,000, while the other eight winners, playing with one ticket, won £185,000 each.

Ted, a retired steel worker, was joined by his son Gareth to accept his winners’ cheque and said he was absolutely shocked with his win.

He said: “You never expect to win this amount of money. I am absolutely elated.”

Ted plans to go on a world cruise and has always wanted a Jaguar so a new 4×4 car is also at the top of his list.

Ted’s other son Jonathan and daughter Catherine were jetting off to Cyprus for a wedding, so he was excited to phone them and share the news.

He added: “I don’t think they’ll believe me when I tell them how much I’ve won.

“I’ll definitely keep playing People’s Postcode Lottery. You never know I might win again.”

Lisa Scanlon, 43, was joined by her boyfriend Stephen, her mum Cherry, sister Emma and five-year-old niece Maddie when she was presented with her cheque for £185,000 by Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson – who hails from Abertridwr.

Lisa, a quality controller at a chocolate factory, said: “I really don’t know what I’m going to do with my winnings. I’m always teased in my family about how sensible I am with my money, so I’ll need to think of something exciting to spend it on, maybe a trip to the Maldives.”

Lewis Lance, 68, and his partner Rose were delighted to welcome Matt to find out they had won £185,000.

He has lived in his house for more than 34 years said he hopes to buy a bungalow with his winnings.

Lewis said: “I’m on cloud nine! We’ve been thinking for the last couple of years about buying a bungalow and now I definitely think we’ll take the plunge and go for it.”

NHS worker Rose said: “The last couple of years have been really tough and I’ve been working seven days a week, so this money has really come at a great time.

“We’re going to have a big party to celebrate, and we’ll spoil our children and grandchildren. This will help our whole family.”

Gladys Kent, 72, will be making a very important purchase now that she’s won an incredible £185,000.

“I can get some new slippers now,” said Gladys.

Gladys, a retired home help, also plans to get a new car with ramp access for her mobility scooter, a new three-piece suite and take the whole family away on a trip to Benidorm.

She said: “It’s my husband Gary’s 75th birthday tomorrow [Sunday] so we’ll have a big party with our three children and eight grandchildren, now we have even more reason to celebrate.”

Other winners included: David Price, 65, Mary Brooks, 62, and Raymond Jenkins, 73.

Along with the biggest winners, a further 426 players in the postcode sector received cheques ranging from £3,894 to £11,682, depending on how many tickets they play with.

There were two other winners with the full postcode who chose to remain anonymous.

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson, who presented the winners with their cheques, said: “I absolutely love getting to come home to Wales to present my fellow countrymen and women with some lovely big cheques. It’s great to see so many neighbours winning together in NP22 5. It’s been such a special day meeting our winners and I’m sure there will be a big party in Rhymney this weekend.”