An adoring husband has netted his wife half a million pounds after buying two winning People’s Postcode Lottery tickets – in her name.

Stunned Alison Bewick, 57, won £500,000 thanks to hubby Gary, 61, signing up their postcode.

And the mum-of-two, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, wept when her two prize cheques were revealed.

The couple have said that this money will change their lives, and help them support their sons Russell and Brendan.

Read more: Middlesbrough street wins over £10 million in postcode lottery prize

She said: “I assumed we had one ticket each, I didn’t even know they were in my name.

“We’d have been dead happy with £2,000. It’s unbelievable.

“At my time of life, it’s life-changing. I could retire.”

Primary school caretaker Gary struggled to hold back tears when he saw the amount his wife had won – but regained his composure and joked: “I had a bit of dust in my eye.”

He said: “The reason I signed her up is because I want her to have everything.

“I expected it to be a cheque for £1,000 and I would have enjoyed buying a few knick-knacks.”

The Bewick's are celebrating after their postcode - DH2 2XP - cracked the jackpot in Postcode Lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize.

The couple, who have been together for over 25 years, are set to splash the cash on family, including their two sons – Russell, who serves in the RAF, and younger brother Brendan, a biochemistry student at Bath University.

The Northern Echo: Then couple were overwhelmed when they found out how much money they had won. Then couple were overwhelmed when they found out how much money they had won. (Image: PR)

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Alison said: “They’ll be made up for us – it’ll secure their futures.

"This means so many nice things to our family and we’re a very strong family. We work together.

“We’ll have to sit Gary’s mum down when we tell her – she nearly collapsed when I told her I was pregnant. She poured tea all over the cornflakes.”

Gary added: “We were actually wondering if we could get some money together to get Brendan a car to celebrate him graduating.”

The four-wheeled purchases won’t just stop with their son, as motor enthusiast Gary has his eyes set on a classic Mini.

Alison said: “He’ll be after a Mini Cooper. He classes them as investments. He says having a classic car is better than money in the bank minus the breakdowns.”

Gary, who worked for car giants Nissan for over 20 years, said: “I have seen a 1960s Mini all restored. I love my old classics and I like working on cars in the garage.”

Read next: Postcode lottery wins in Newcastle, Teesside and South Tyneside

And Alison is also planning to treat herself to some new wheels after having rented an electric bike while on a recent holiday to Majorca.

She said: “The electric bike was fantastic but they’re very expensive. It’s definitely more than just a purchase, it’s a treat.”

Their cash win will go towards a family holiday to Key West in Florida, but Alison also said they could make the journey to her dream destination.

She said: “I’d love to go to Norway. I’ve honestly never really thought it would be a reality though. But now I guess we can.

“We like climbing, so Norway with the mountains, landscape and cool fresh air would be a dream.”

And the family cat is even set to share in the good luck.

Alison teased: “It’ll be smoked salmon for tea tonight and tomorrow.”

The delighted duo shared the postcode jackpot with two other neighbours, who also each picked up £250,000.

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Alison was thrilled to hear that she wasn’t winning alone. She said: “It’s just a small postcode and it’s lovely to know our neighbours have won as well.

“I’m still in shock, you think it just happens to others, not the street we live on."