'Home Alone' New York trip plan for postcode lottery winner

A mum whose children are big fans of the film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York can finally afford to take them to the Big Apple thanks to a big win on the lottery.

Leyla Eaton, 33, from Thurrock, Essex, only signed up for the People's Postcode Lottery two months ago.

She was "elated" when she bagged the lottery loot - more than £411,000.

Her neighbour, chemistry teacher Henry Aimiuwu, won the same sum and said it would be "life-transforming".

"It's been the kids' dream to go to New York for Christmas for such a long time because of Home Alone 2," said Ms Eaton, who runs a courier company with her husband Jamie.

"We'll definitely look at doing it, it's never been on the cards before."

She said the idea of joining the lottery "came into my head, like a voice" and explained the win had come "at such a needed time".

"We've had a really tough 12 months. My husband is quite unwell and needs some surgery."

She said holidays for the children, aged six and nine, would "allow us to breathe".

Neighbour Mr Aimiuwu, 56, said at first he did not believe he had won that amount of money.

"I hope when I wake up tomorrow, I will still be able to say, 'I'm me' and that this is real," he said.

"Winning is good, but the charitable deeds that are part of People's Postcode Lottery is much better. I just think we have got to do more for humanity and that is what the lottery is about."

He said he was looking forward to taking his family on holidays to Canada and Madeira in Portugal, adding: "This is huge."

The lottery announces winners of the Millionaire Street prize (of £1m) each Saturday and each month local charities in those areas share £1m.

One local charity to have benefitted from this month's win is Thurrock Play Network, which has been awarded £25,000 from Postcode Community Trust, which gives out grants funded by players of the Postcode Lottery.

The charity aims to make play inclusive to everyone in the community, no matter the age or circumstances.

Sylvia Yates, a trustee of Thurrock Play Network, said: "For small non-profit organisations like ours, this is a dream come true."

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