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£1m lottery win for locals in 'forgotten valley'

BBC Six people stood on the street holding their winning cheques from the Postcode Lottery. The amount they have won, which is £83,333, is on the checks.BBC
Alan and Muriel Owen, Grant and Katrina Williams, and Michaela and Rob Jones were among the lucky winners

Residents of a "forgotten valley" in south Wales have said they are "absolutely buzzing" after celebrating a £1m lottery windfall.

The 11 winners in a street in Nantymoel, Ogmore Vale were informed that they had won £83,333 each, after sharing the Postcode Lottery's main weekly cash prize.

One resident said they were so stunned that they initially thought the fateful phone call was a scam, while another will now apply for his first ever passport to go on holiday abroad.

Charities and organisations in the "tight knit" community are also set to benefit, with pub landlady describing it as a "fantastic" boost to locals.

Grant and Katrina Williams on the street holding the winning Postcode Lottery cheque. Grant is wearing a black hoody and has his arm around Katrina. He has a bald head and is smiling at the camera. Katrina has grey hair and is wearing a khaki top, she is also smiling at the camera.
Grant and Katrina Williams say they "won't be changing their address any time soon", after paying off their mortgage and landing a winning postcode in the same week

Grant and Katrina Williams were among the Nantymoel residents to get the unexpected phone call this week - days after they had finally paid off the mortgage on their house.

"It's definitely one of the better weeks we've had," said Katrina.

"I just thought if it's a £1,000 that would be lovely, so to open the golden ticket and see what we had won was a massive bonus."

Grant, 52, still lives in the house in which he was born, and has never been abroad - something he said will now change.

"Where? I don't know yet. But I think I'll have to bite the bullet now and get that passport sorted."

Alan and Muriel Owen smiling at the camera, they are holding their winning Postcode Lottery cheque. Alan is wearing a green jumper and is bald. Muriel is wearing a pink jumper and has short grey hair.
Alan and Muriel Owen initially thought someone was playing a "sick joke" on them

One couple have wasted no time booking flights and have already booked a trip to Turkey.

Alan and Muriel Owen said it took them a moment to absorb the news about their shock win.

"I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a scam at first, and then I said to [Alan] somebody was playing a sick joke on us," she said.

But when her neighbours asked if she had had a phone call, she realised that is was true.

She added that it was "amazing" to share the win with friends, describing them as "lovely valleys people".

Rob and Michaela Jones on the street holding their winning PostCode Lottery cheque. Rob has short black hair and black glasses on, he is wearing a khaki t-shirt. Michaela has short blonde hair and is wearing a lilac jumper.
Michaela Jones says a trip to watch the British and Irish Lions in Australia may now be "back on the cards" after their lottery win

Michaela and Rob Jones were also among the winners on the street, and plan to spend the money on a new kitchen and a holiday.

"We can now comfortably enjoy our life, do a few things around the house, and help the children," said Rob.

Michaela added: "It's nice that working people have finally won something.

"Having extra money is something nice for our community, because we're a small community but we're all close, so it's nice to share that experience with friends."

Postcode Lottery Matt Johnson holding a sign that says 'millionaire street'. He is kneeling on the floor with winners in Nantymoel stood behind him holding their cheques.Postcode Lottery
Winners in Nantymoel were presented with their cheques by presenter Matt Johnson

Most of the winners celebrated together on Tuesday at the village pub, Blaenogwr Hotel, with owner Helen Smith describing the news as "fantastic".

"It was a lovely atmosphere here, we put on free prosecco for everybody to help them celebrate," she said.

"It's nice to see lovely people winning money."

Helen Smith smiling at the camera. She is wearing a green t-shirt and is stood behind the bar in a pub.
Pub owner Helen Smith said the winners celebrated long into the night, but that the community will be pleased to see benefits as well

The eleven winners are not the only ones who have secured a cash payout either, according to the Postcode Lottery.

Local charities and organisations are also in line to receive a windfall include Tanio, a community arts charity, the Wyndham Boys and Girls Club in the village, and the local boxing club.

"To realise that local charities will also benefit from our win is fantastic for Nantymoel," said Katrina Williams.

"We're a little valley that's forgotten a lot of the time."

Husband Grant added: "It's put us back on the map."