A WOMAN has told how she wants to splurge on a fresh coat of paint for her staircase - despite winning thousands on the People's Postcode Lottery.
Susan Dodds, 66, couldn't believe it when she found out she'd won £83,000, and decided to revamp her Whitley Bay home of 40 years.
Susan - a mum-of-three - will also get herself a brand new, fully equipped kitchen.
But she's most excited about the stairs.
The retired hospital worker and foster mum said: “I thought the prize was going to be about £1,000 and I would get my staircase painted.
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"I thought I could get that sorted and it would still leave me with a few pounds to do some other things with.
“But when I saw the amount, I thought I can get a new kitchen and paint the staircase. I’ve been thinking about a kitchen for a long, long time. I’ve been here for 40 years.”
After Susan took home an £83,333 cheque she decided to look into going on two trips to Dubai and Australia to see her children, who both moved across the world.
Her son James, 43, lives in Dubai, and her 42-year-old daughter Angela Julian is in Perth, Australia.
But until now she hasn't been able to visit because she needs oxygen on the plane.
The grandma-of-three added: “It would be lovely if I could go and see them and it’s now worth having a look into.
“I’d like to help my children. I would love to be able to say to them ‘there you go’.”
Susan revealed her bumper winnings to James through her webcam doorbell despite him being 4,700 miles away.
She added: "I thought this was going to be a little prize. I’m gobsmacked. I can’t believe it. I think I’m dreaming.
“It’s a big shock, but a nice shock. Other than having kids, this is the next best day of my life.”
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On the same street, Paul Rendles, 64, and his wife Elaine, 64, both scooped up double the prize with a whopping £166,666.
They only entered after a chance conversation convinced them.
When Paul found out he won, he said: “Oh my God! Wow! Fantastic! I nearly swore there. Wonderful. I didn’t expect that. Dreams do come true."
It comes after an OAP secured £333,000 on the Postcode Lottery but was told she would only take home a third because of an age-old pact.
And in Birmingham, a great gran-of-five bagged £111,111 as part of a £1m win amongst her and eight neighbours.
Joan Buckingham revealed what her lucky charm was ever since she bought the first one a decade ago.
And one group of neighbours on a Manchester estate won £3.2million between them.
