A grandmother finally had something to celebrate after winning £25,000 – two years after thieves stole £300 worth of fuel from her tank and three years after losing a £1,200 trailer.
It was all smiles for Janet Hurst, 73, on Saturday as X Factor star Danyl Johnson, now a People’s Postcode Lottery ‘ambassador’, knocked on her Wisbech St Mary home to tell her she had won.
And apart from presents for her 15 grandchildren, her first thoughts were on a visit to the dentist.
“The first thing I want to do is get my teeth sorted out,” she said. “One fell out recently and another is loose. It can be expensive but I want to be able to smile with confidence.”
Mrs Hurst was at home with her husband, David, a retired carpenter, when she was surprised by former X-Factor finalist Danyl who presented her with her cheque.
“I’m over the moon,” she said. “I’ve never won anything before – I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real.
Apart from teeth she also plans to buy a new television set.
“Our TV at the moment takes about 20 minutes to come on in the morning,” she said.
She added: “We have four children, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren,” she said. “I can’t wait to tell them all about my win.”
Danyl said: “Janet couldn’t stop smiling when I presented her with her cheque, although I know she’ll be smiling ever more when she gets the dental work she wants. I hope she treats herself.”
Since coming fourth in the 2009 X Factor, Danyl has enjoyed success as a singer and has recently been nominated for an award in his home town of Reading for his charity work.
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