NEIGHBOURS in a Rainhill street shared £1 million after winning the People's Postcode Lottery.

John Washington and Jacqueline Donnelly were revealed to be playing with the full winning Dee Road postcode at a presentation event on Saturday.

Nineteen other residents from the neighbouring area won just shy of £40,000 each, with ten others sharing in the remaining £260,000 of the £2 million prize pot.

A total of 31 winners living in the postcode sector of 'L35 9' walked away with cheques at an event held at Speke Hall – the smallest prize being £5,617.

John Washington scooped the biggest prize of £666,666 while neighbour Jacqueline Donnelly won £333,333.

John, 44, said: "We have been through a tough time in the last couple of months. I want to spend this on my wife Barbara, she deserves it.

"I was made redundant in March but have just started work as a warehouse operative so everything is finally working out."

John was extra lucky to be a winner as he was playing with his old postcode.

"I've been playing for about four years," said John. "We moved house 12 months ago but decided to keep playing with our old postcode – thank goodness we did."

John added: "My sister lives in New Zealand and we haven't seen her in years. I would love to take a family holiday out there as well as Australia with our children Emily (20) and Jack (18)."

Mother-of-four Jacqueline, 53, who was joined by husband Eddie, said: "It's unreal. First I want to pay off our mortgage and possibly buy a new house. Then I want to set up trust funds for the kids."

Jacqueline, who works at a bakery, said: "We have struggled financially for a last couple of years and I would love to go on holiday, all together."