Three people near Ellesmere have picked up prizes of over £250,000 in the Postcode Lottery, with local charities also receiving a share.
The thrilled trio from Tetchill, Shropshire, shared the bumper windfall after SY12 9AR landed the lottery's weekly Millionaire Street prize on Saturday, August 8.
Every ticket was worth £250,000, but one winner doubled their prize by playing with two tickets.
Their good fortune meant surprise funding for a string of local charities, including £100,000 for Hope House Children’s Hospices, which could help fund ‘around 66 days of respite care’.
Pauline Pengelly, who was one of the quarter-million-pound winners, said: "That is brilliant.
"Hope House is a really good cause.
"I know that charities are struggling with funding."
Care home assistant Pauline, 61, was left speechless after being told of the win during her lunch break.
She had continued to play at an address she moved out of eight years ago to live in a boat on the local canal – before moving in with her partner, Paddy Boorman, 58.
"I moved up from south Wales to Shropshire in 2018," said Pauline. "I don't live at the winning address anymore, but I never stopped playing at it in case this happened.
"When I moved out in 2018, I bought myself a little boat and lived on the canal.
"Then I met Paddy and moved in with him.
"Now I could maybe buy another boat and go back and live on the canal."
At first, Pauline had some humble items on her wish list.
She said: "When we were talking about it, we didn't know how much I was going to get.
"We said it would be nice to get enough for a decent king-size bed and mattress."
Then she got more adventurous as the size of her winnings began to sink in, including a new fishing tent shelter – also known as a bivvy – for her partner.
"My partner's a carp fisherman, and he fancies a new bivvy.
"I'll probably treat him to a carp fishing trip to France," said Pauline.
"He'd love that.
"I'd like to do a cruise round the Arctic.
"One of those whale-watching cruises.
"This will be life-changing.
"I've got a few years until retirement, and this will give me a nice retirement.
"But I enjoy my job and wouldn't give up, even if I went part-time."
Hope House Children’s Hospice said it was "incredibly grateful" for the funding, which will help them as they support hundreds of children with life-threatening conditions and their families.
"This support will make a real difference in helping us provide specialist nursing care, therapies, counselling, and practical support," said head of fundraising, Alison Marsh.
"Every year, we support hundreds of families across Wales, Shropshire, and Cheshire who are facing some of the toughest challenges imaginable.
"This money could help fund around 66 days of respite care at one of our hospices, meaning that children get to enjoy quality moments of enjoyment and fun in an environment tailored just for their specialist needs."
Hope House was not the only charity to benefit from the win.
Little Stars Baby Bank received £60,000 for their work providing pre-loved donations of essential baby and children items such as clothing, Moses baskets, and nappies.
The charity also provides essentials to new mothers who have just given birth and offers unbranded school uniforms for children whose families are under financial strain.
Hector's Greyhound Rescue received £30,000 of funding to help with their work saving and rehoming ex-racing and coursing greyhounds – rehoming 100 greyhounds in 2025 alone.
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