A MUM scooped a massive lottery prize two weeks after cancelling her ticket thanks to a loophole.
Francesca Griffiths, 35, was just inches away from getting absolutely nothing when she decided to stop playing the Postcode Lotto.
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The speech therapist from North Yorkshire decided to pack in her monthly payment, which included her in the draw, when she was moving house.
But little did she know her old ticket was still eligible for January’s prize.
Lucky Francesca, who has two kids, was shocked to discover she had won a whopping £12,000 a month for the next year at her former postcode.
Having already moved, she had to return to her old street to collect the insane cheque.
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She said: “I cancelled my ticket two weeks ago because we had moved to another address, and I signed up again with the new postcode.
“I was told I would still be in the January draw at my old address, but I never thought anything of it because I didn’t think I’d ever win.
“I’d have been devastated if I’d missed out. But I’m a great believer in if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
She is now planning on renovating her family’s new home with the money.
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Francesca added: “This will help with the house we’ve just bought which is a wreck and needs to be done up.
“We moved in November to get a garden. But it is very dated. We’ve done the electrics and central heating, but we need a new roof, windows and doors.
“My husband wanted a garage, but we discovered the kitchen ceiling was full of asbestos, so we had to pay for that. I’m really happy that he can get a garage now.”
She also wants to treat her son, 14, and daughter, 10, to a holiday in Orlando, Florida.
Francesca, along with seven other neighbours in BD22 0HG, scooped the cash prize along with a holiday.
Winners can choose from a seven-day safari to Kenya with Fauna & Flora International, a Brazilian rainforest visit with WWF, excursions to a national park in Mozambique or South Africa with Peace Parks Foundation.
Or, a five-star trip to Edinburgh with a VIP experience at the zoo courtesy of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
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.
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