Published: Friday, 22nd January, 2010 1:05pm

Postcode lottery boost for residents

FIVE local residents have been celebrating after it was announced that their Jamphlars postcode had landed the People's Postcode Lottery's weekly £30,000 street prize.

The week's winnings were shared by five players, and the picture shows the biggest winner- Luca Marini (centre, surrounded by staff)- receiving his cheque from presenter Angus Purden. The image was taken at Luca and wife Mariangela's chip shop, the well known Golden Fry, in Lochgelly.

The five residents were celebrating after it was announced that their postcode-Jamphlars Road, Cardenden KY5 0ND- had landed the People's Postcode Lottery's weekly £30,000 Street Prize.

A visit from lottery presenter Angus to deliver the good news came as a welcome surprise, with biggest winners Mariangela and Luca Marini kick-starting 2010 £10,002 the richer.

There's no such thing as the January blues for this couple- 33 year old Mariangela, who is Italian by birth, described herself as "speechless and delighted" at the news.

The pair- who play with three tickets- own the Golden Fry chip shop in Lochgelly and say that while they've no concrete plans as to how to spend the money yet, a celebratory cruise may be on the cards!

A few doors down 46 year old winner Andrew Gibson and wife Patricia were also cheerful, "The new year has been good so far, and it's about to get even better!", Andrew explained, while Patricia quipped, "Maybe we'll head off to Tenerife!"

With an extra £6,680 to play with, it's set to be a holiday of a lifetime.

Next door neighbour Isabella Marshall thought she'd won some sort of raffle gift from the charity lottery, and was understandably shocked when Angus revealed she had, in fact, won £3,334.

The retired 76 year old has four children, and she'll make sure she treats them all with her windfall. "And my husband Jack and I might have a wee holiday too" she added "Why not?"

Two other winners living in the KY5 0ND postcode received £6,680 and £3,334 respectively. Across the UK, over 90 postcodes landed cash prizes.

The People's Postcode Lottery gives 40p from every ticket to charity, with players having raised over £4 million to date for good causes across Scotland.

Local charities include nearby Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve Cullaloe and the Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre in Kirkcaldy. CHILDREN 1ST and Missing People (in Scotland) also receive regular and unrestricted funding.

Launched online in 2005, PPL represents a unique fundraising concept where players play with their postcode to win cash prizes whilst supporting local UK charities.

Players purchase a £2 lottery ticket, which enters them into the weekly draw. Tickets are based on a player's postcode and a 3-digit unique code. Each ticket in the winning postcode receives a share of the £30,000 and each ticket in the winning postcode sector receives part of £5,000.