LLANDRINDOD Wells was once world famous for its healing spa waters… now hundreds of its residents are bathing in success after winning big on the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Kevin Jones was the big winner – and People’s Postcode Lottery biggest winner ever – after scooping just over £1.2 million. But there were 407 other prize winners living in the greater LD1 5 postcode area – all taking home between £4,305 to £17,220 on Saturday.

People queued up outside the town’s Pavilion on Saturday, February 3, to collect their cheques, sharing in a monumental total prize pot of £3.2m.

Kevin was totally stunned when Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson showed up at his house and initially presented him with a winning ticket worth £403,638 – but Kev tripled that by playing with three, which saw him win a record £1,210,914.

County Times: People's Postcode Lottery winner Kevin Jones (right) won a record £1,210,914. People's Postcode Lottery winner Kevin Jones (right) won a record £1,210,914.

Kev’s was the full winning postcode of LD1 5HR, while all residents with an LD1 5 postcode won various amounts.

There was a single winner taking home £17,220.00 for having four tickets; 10 individuals won £12,915.00 with three tickets; 32 people won £8,610 with two tickets; while 364 people with a single ticket all won £4,305.

May Blackman, 40, was stunned with her £4,305 win – not least because she cancelled her ticket the day before the prize was announced. 

Support worker May, collecting her cheque on a quick break from work, said: “I didn’t expect to be in this draw. I cancelled my direct debit a few days ago because I moved house. 

“I’m so excited I’ve won otherwise I would’ve been gutted. I think I might just go on a nice holiday to Spain or Tenerife. And I will sign back up again with my new address now, definitely.”

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New parents Chris and Coryn Lewis, both 35, said the £4,305 win couldn’t have come at a better time. 

National Grid worker Chris said: “We’ve got a seven-week-old son, Oliver, so this will make a massive difference. You don’t realise how expensive babies are until you have one.”

They are planning the trip of a lifetime to Disney World. 

Powys County Council worker Francis Hydes, 40, is planning on putting his £4,305 windfall towards home improvements at the pad he shares with partner Anna Poulton and their three dogs and two cats.        

Anna, 40, who works for mental health charity Mind, joked: “I’ve just seen our builder is here too. He’ll probably be getting most of this.”

County Times: May Blackman won despite recently cancelling her ticket. May Blackman won despite recently cancelling her ticket. (Image: People's Postcode Lottery)

Sophie Harper, 29, discovered she’d scooped a cheque for £4,305 when the Postcode Lottery team surprised her at the town’s Metropole Hotel, where she works as a receptionist. 

The mum-of-two is planning to spoil her two young sons Gethin, six, and Rhayn, four, as well as husband Dan, 31.   

Sisters Jo and Sarah Francis celebrated together after they each bagged £4,305.

Civil servant Sarah, 47, said: “It feels amazing winning together. I thought it would be £1,000. Anything over that is a bonus.”

Primary school teacher Jo, 51, only signed up for the lottery four months ago. The mum-of-three said: “It’s great to win so quickly. I’ll go on a little holiday and help my son with uni.”

Dad-of-one Ryan Evans made the event a family affair – by picking up a cheque along with SIX of his partner’s relatives.

The self-employed electrician celebrated with teaching assistant Ebonie Collard-Francis, 26.

Ryan was joined by Ebonie’s grandad David Collard, her great-uncle Paul Dudley, aunt Julie Hughes and cousin Bryony Cox, who all won £4,305. Ebonie’s great-gran Pam Dudley, 91, also landed the same amount.

But another great-uncle, Tony Dudley, doubled his winnings to £8,610 with two tickets.

Ryan, 28, said: “We’ll be going on holiday. Don’t know where yet, but I’ll have to renew my passport first.” 

County Times: Francis Hydes and Anna Poulton plan DIY renovations to fix cats and dogs damage at their home. Francis Hydes and Anna Poulton plan DIY renovations to fix cats and dogs damage at their home. (Image: People's Postcode Lottery)

HOW IT WORKS

People’s Postcode Lottery costs £12 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.  

Players have raised more than £1.2 billion for thousands of charities and local good causes. 

The monthly Postcode Millions prize sees players in a postcode sector share a multi-million-pound prize. 

Other prizes include £1m shared by one postcode every Saturday as part of the lottery’s Millionaire Street prize. Every Sunday, £30,000 is won by every winning ticket in one postcode. 

In February, players in one winning postcode will also each win £12,000 a month for a year. 

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

Powys Samaritans, based in Llandrindod, received £14,000 last year to provide confidential mental health support to people in the area.   

To find out more or to play, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk.