Dinner lady scoops huge £250,000 lottery win and plans to buy a new mattress

A sensible dinner lady has vowed to remain down-to-earth after landing a hefty £250,000 prize from the

Thrifty Pauline Smith insists a new mattress is top of her agenda after securing the , but paying full-price is out of the question.

The fortunate from Aylestone, who works as a part-time school lunchtime supervisor, revealed: "The only thing I do need is a new mattress for the bed."

She added: "I'll go and see my friend who works at a furniture shop, and she'll get me a discount. I won't go berserk at - I'll do exactly the same. I'm not someone to waste money."

Pauline's double entry meant she hit the jackpot twice when her postcode, LE2 8QE, was announced on Saturday, November 9, resulting in a payday of £125,000 for every ticket. While one local tripled their luck with three tickets for a grand total of £375,000, 72-year-old Pauline is planning to go on a Caribbean cruise and to share the wealth among her family.

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She told : "I've got two sons and two grandchildren. I'll give some of the money to them and they can do what they want to do, go on the cruise and save the rest."

"I'm a saver. It will be in the bank. I was brought up in the old school where you make do with what you've got. I just take each day as it comes and live my life as best as possible."

In a heartfelt scene outside her home, Pauline was awarded her big cheque as Sharon Henry, 63, her best mate and neighbour, couldnt contain her excitement. She raced over from next door to give the winner a massive hug before saying: "Oh my God, Pauline, I can't believe that. Where are we going? I've got no words."

She added: "I'm so happy for her. She needs good news. This will just change her life. I know she'll help her family out."

The friends, who've been neighbours for more than thirty years and work together as school dinner ladies, explained how they supported each other over the years, with Sharon helping Pauline through the loss of her husband.

Pauline said: "Sharon was brilliant when I lost my husband. She was there for me. I would have been lost without her. I keep telling her I'm grateful.

"When I have a hospital appointment she drives me, and she takes me shopping every Saturday. We can do MandS shopping now! I'm speechless and that's a change for me. I'm nervous and shaking."

Neighbours Kat McManus, 61, and her builder hubby Tom, 59, are already planning an epic Italian road trip in their DIY camper van for his milestone 60th birthday next year. Handing over a whopping £125,000 cheque to Tom had Kat yelling with glee down the phone during her work break: "Oh my God! Thank you so much, that is beautiful. Me and Tom need a holiday. We've not had one for years. We'll definitely help the kids and the grandchildren out."

Tom said: "Kat loves the Postcode Lottery because of the charities. Every week she says she doesn't mind not winning because it is for charity, then she says, 'but 'I'd love to win.' She definitely deserves this. She's the kind of person who gives most of it away anyway. She's got a big, loving family who'll all be happy for her."

It comes after the Leicestershire Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre recently received a much-needed boost by winning £40,000 from the Postcode Community Trust. The charity, set up by MS sufferers, now extends its support to people affected by a range of conditions such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, long covid, or those healing from road accident and sports injuries.

Centre manager Josephine Hill explained how much of an impact the donation had. She said: "The centre is not only here to offer therapy in the physical sense, there is an immense sense of community here. People have a support network here, patients stay behind after therapy, and we even get family members of patients come and sit in, to have a coffee and cake and support each other."

This October witnessed a surge in activity at the MS Therapy Centre which illustrates the invaluable service they provide, with 165 individuals receiving physiotherapy, while the centre hosted an impressive 111 visitors for oxygen therapy, notching over 400 sessions in the month alone.

Ms Hill said: "It's so special to receive £40,000 as the MS Therapy Centre is about to mark its 40th anniversary next year! One of our exercise bikes has just broken, and is beyond repair, so some of the money can go towards refreshing out equipment. We're so grateful to players of People's Postcode Lottery, thank you! ".