A great grandad who has beaten cancer three times has now won £60,000 with People’s Postcode Lottery.

Bill Puffett, 80, scooped the huge sum after playing with two tickets, while a lucky neighbour won £30,000.

The pair - who live seven miles from Swindon in the village of Bishopstone - were announced as a winners on Christmas Eve.

“After everything I’ve been through with my health, this is the icing on the cake,” said Bill.

“I’ve had three lots of cancer and I thought I was very lucky after they said I was cancer-free for the third time but to now win £60,000 - I nearly fainted!

“I was shaking, and it wasn’t due to the cold, the feeling was indescribable. To have that much money in your hand, it just doesn’t feel real.”

Bill, a retired builder and decorator, hasn’t had the best of luck with his health, battling three different types of cancer - skin, prostate and bowel cancer - over the last decade.

“I firstly had skin cancer – melanoma – I had to go into hospital and get a big chunk of skin removed from my shoulder," he said.

“A couple years later I was passing blood and my wife took me into A&E and after a number of tests it turned out I had prostate cancer.

“Lucky enough, my doctor caught it early enough and I received intense radiotherapy every day of the week until the cancer had gone.

“In March 2020, two years after getting the all-clear from prostate cancer, the doctors discovered that I had bowel cancer. I then had an operation, which despite being successful, left me with unbearable pain for weeks - I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy. 

“Thankfully, I’ve had the all clear now - touch wood – but I can’t say it’s not going to come back because it’s always a possibility.”

The lottery win for the SN6 8PS postcode also meant Bill’s wife Linda could retire from her job as a senior care worker at a local care home.  

Bill said: “The night after the Postcode Lottery surprised us Linda quit her job. So, that was another big bonus.

“She’s been working 12-hour days, four days a week, and the other night, before we won, I was thinking why can’t something happen that would mean Linda could retire.”

The couple plan to spend their winnings on house renovations and treating their family.

Bill said: “We need new windows and a few other things done on the house.”

Linda added: “We’ve got five children, so they’ll have something, and they’ll be happy - we’ll all be happy.”

Bill said he’d be celebrating the meal with his family: “I’ve booked a table in a local pub, the Sunday roast is second to none, and I’ve got all the family together for a Christmas meal.

“I have a bottle of champagne in the house that I might pop open.”

The other winner on the street, who won £30,000, opted to remain anonymous. The winners’ prizes will be paid into their bank accounts.

Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson presented Bill with his prize cheque.

He said: “I had such a great time surprising Bill with such an amazing amount of money. His reaction was lovely, and he definitely wasn’t expecting it.

“Congratulations to both our winners in Bishopstone. I hope they have a fantastic time treating themselves, and their loved ones, with the cash.”

This draw was promoted on behalf of Postcode International Trust, which supports charities including British Red Cross, Mary’s Meals and Action Against Hunger.