Stoke-on-Trent carer treats family after £10k-a-month lottery win

A woman who has worked as a carer for 19 years has said the "possibilities are pretty much endless" after winning a £10,000-a-month lottery prize.Sandra Hall, 61, from Stoke-on-Trent, said she planned to keep working and treat family and friends after winning the Set for Life National Lottery draw on 8 May. "This win is incredible, I'm not sure it's still fully sunk in," said Ms Hall, who will receive payments each month for 30 years. Ms Hall is also buying herself a few treats, including a hot tub engraved with her winning lottery numbers, "I want to remind myself how lucky I have been every time I take a dip", she said.
"It's always been who I am to try and look after others, it's my vocation. Sometimes I get reminded by family and friends that I need to do something for myself. "So, when I found out that I'd just won the top prize on Set For Life, I knew my one treat would be a hot tub."She treated her fiance John to a work van, and plans to pay for her sister's new bathroom and decking at her mother's home.
She is looking forward to shopping for a wedding dress ahead of her marriage to John, a farmer, next April. Ms Hall put the deposit down for his van after winning but paid off the balance after receiving her first lottery payment. "If I can help my family and others out I absolutely will and that's one of the most amazing things about winning," Ms Hall said. She said when the first payment landed in her bank account, it hit her that "I've got 359 of these same payments still left to go".She added: "The possibilities are pretty much endless and I will be treating myself to a few other luxuries soon. "I'll definitely be booking luxury weekends breaks and it'll be very nice to go shopping and not look at the price for once."
Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Independent

16 minutes ago

• The Independent

This divisive 90s shoe trend is back for summer – and this is the pair to wear

Flip flops have officially been given the fashion seal of approval. From smooth leather iterations to jelly styles and classic Havaianas', the sandal style is just as likely to be seen in the city as they are at the beach this season. Minimalist luxury fashion label The Row led the charge last year with its 'beach flip flop' style, plumped for by the likes of Kylie and Kendall Jenner and Zoe Kravitz. Don't be fooled by the name, as these flip flops aren't seen anywhere near the sea. In fact, The Row's newest take for this season is aptly named the 'city flip flop' (£860, But you don't need to spend that eye-watering amount on the style; Ancient Greek Sandals were next with the Saionara jelly sandal (£125, worn by influencers including Lucy Williams and Lizzy Hadfield. The jelly material and pop of colour playfully nod to the Nineties. A more budget way to embrace the trend, the classic flip flop brand Havaianas is officially cool again, thanks to recent collaborations with Zara, Dolce & Gabbana and Gigi Hadid. Of course, the trend isn't for everyone. Some might look on with horror at exposed feet on the commute, while getting your toes out in the office is a divisive topic among colleagues. I cast my own reservations aside to road test the best flip flops to invest in this season – and one pair has shaped up to be my sandal of the season. Perfectly minimalist but sufficiently stylish thanks to the sleek red finish, Russell & Bromley's radford style is a hero investment. At £125, the flats are a more premium choice on the high street, but feel far less flimsy than many leather or faux leather takes. Here's my case for why you should invest too. How we tested I tested these Russell & Bromley flip flops alongside dozens of other pairs from the high street. Considering comfort, styling versatility, value-for-money and aesthetic, here's why I keep returning to the radford style. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Daisy Lester is a senior shopping writer at The Independent. She specialises in reviewing fashion, so she knows what makes a well-crafted, comfortable and on-trend shoe. Where flip flops are concerned, she turns to the best brands that combine affordability and quality, looking for trend-led styles that are still a timeless investment.

Daily Mail​

44 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

Nick Knowles and his new wife Katie pack on the PDA as they are seen for the first time since their wedding at Royal Ascot day four

Nick Knowles and his wife Katie packed on the PDA as they were seen for the first time since their wedding as they led the glamour at Royal Ascot day four on Friday. The presenter, 62, exchanged vows with his lingerie brand boss bride, 34, during a six-figure wedding at Braxted Park, Essex, earlier this month. At Ascot Katie wore a blue and white dress very similar to her wedding dress as she planted a kiss on her husband. She added a smart navy hat to her look and boosted her height with strappy nude heels while beaming for the camera. By her side Nick cut a smart figure in a black suit and light blue silk waist coat as the pair proved they were very much still in their honeymoon period. Also at the racing event was regular Georgia Toffolo who looked the epitome of chic in a red dress with statement sleeves. Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, kicked off on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday. King Charles and Camilla are likely to arrive in the famous carriage procession along the course and past the stands that will welcome hundreds of thousands of punters during the five-day meet. It is a royal tradition that has reached its 200th anniversary this year after it was first held in 1825 during the reign of King George IV. The festival was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for 'horses fit for kings' and it is now a major social event and sporting attraction. Last week newly-weds Katie and Nick shared a glimpse into their lavish wedding on social media as they partied into the night. The fun continued into the early hours, as the couple shared a series of sweet photos and clips on Instagram from their happy day. Katie wowed in a stunning second white bridal dress for the reception while Nick looked dapper in a pink blazer. The couple showed off their fun side as they posed in a photo booth wearing costume hats and Katie held a wired telephone. In another clip, the couple danced while Katie jokingly shook her head at her new husband's moves as he whipped off his pink suit jacket flinging it around his head. As guests made their arrival for the nuptials, they were greeted with a cheeky nod to Nick's TV success, as a huge sign boasted the words: 'Welcome to Katie's wedding... ft TV's Nick Knowles.' Earlier in the evening, Katie wore her quirky floral print wedding dress, which she wore for the ceremony, for the couple's first dance and cutting their huge cake. The couple pulled out all the stops for their guests with a live band providing the music whilst a carnival dancer bedecked in feathers took to the floor at one point. The couple began dating in 2021 after they met when their children became friends at a play centre and got engaged in 2023. The couple are said to have spared no expense on their special day, which was reportedly attended by a whole host of celebrity guests, including Nick's Strictly co-stars. Last month, Katie kicked off the wedding celebrations with her hen do at luxury boutique hotel Karma Sanctum, where she was joined by close friends Kirsty Shaw-Rayner and Sherene Fuller. The group arrived on a beer bus and then headed through party district Soho wearing Nick Knowles face masks, much to the amusement of Katie, ahead of partying at Karma Sanctum. Katie was later entertained by two buff men dressed as a fireman and policeman as the party carried on into the early hours. Katie and the TV star have been subject to cruel trolling during their relationship, with critics mocking their age difference and financial setup. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, about the 'gold digger' jibes, Katie admitted they don't get to her as much as they used to because she and Nick know it's not true. She said: 'I think at the start, it was probably more irritating, especially for my family. But now those comments kind of just pass over me because we both know it's not true. 'Nick works hard, he has what he has. I work hard, I have what I have and then we buy each other stuff.' Katie continued: 'We're both really comfortable with where we are with that and you will always get it because there's an age gap. 'I know plenty of people who are together and the same age where someone's using the other one for money and they're not happy. 'So as long as I know it's not true and he knows it's not true, I think that's, that's pretty much all that matters.' Nick has an estimated £7.5 million net worth but Katie has built up an impressive lingerie brand, having launched Boa Boa in 2022. She has proved to be her own best advert for the brand, modelling the skimpy looks to her 102,000 Instagram followers.

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

How to wash your pillow to kill bacteria & keep them fluffy in hot weather with 35p hack

WHILE you likely wash your bedding regularly, chances are you aren't cleaning your pillow often enough. A budget-friendly hack can help to kill bacteria and leave your pillow feeling fluffier than ever in the hot weather. 2 Experts recommend washing your pillows a few times a year as they can accumulate everything from sweat and oils to dead skin cells and dust mites. And with the current bout of scorching weather, now is an ideal time to give them a freshen up. TikTok user Anna Louisa (@anna_louisa_at_home) shared the tip with her followers, revealing the budget item she uses to fully tackle bacteria. She explained that someone told her "half the weight of people's pillows is dead skin cells". The reason why your pillow may be getting heavier over time recently shocked This Morning viewers. And while the statistics of bacteria on pillows varies by case, this was still enough to kick the cleaning pro into action. "Apparently pillows should be washed at least [every] three to six months to keep them fresh and free of bacteria, skin cells, dirt, oil, and dust mites," she told her followers. She shared her go-to method for anyone who was also inspired to take immediate action. Anna recommended keeping your pillows in a pillowcase or pillow protector when putting in the washing machine. She explained that this can help to protect them during the cycle and avoid ripping. Cleaning whizz shares two-second 13p trick to get all the pet hair out of your laundry in seconds To keep the washing machine balanced and guarantee an all-round clean, the TikToker suggested only washing two pillows at a time. For the best results, Anna advised her audience to select a delicate or gentle cycle when washing. She also suggested using a small amount of normal detergent and replacing fabric conditioner with vinegar to "make your pillows fluffy and to neutralise any odours". You can pick up a bottle of distilled vinegar for just 35p from Tesco. And you can even speed up the drying process by adding an extra spin to the washing cycle. Laundry tips Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol shared her laundry tips. How often should you be remaking your bed? When it comes to your bed, maintaining a hygienic sleep setup can actually improve your sleep quality, helping you start every day better. Most people shed 500 million skin cells per day and a lot of that ends up in bed for dust mites to feed on. And those with asthma or allergies might see symptoms worsen by sleeping on dirty sheets! You want to be washing your sheets once a week - or every 10 days if you don't suffer from allergies and wear nightclothes. Bedding builds up with sweat, skin cells and oils quickly, even if it doesn't look dirty. Using an effective detergent like smol's will still give you a great clean on a 20°C cycle - that's better for the planet and your energy bills! What temperature do smol recommend then? For your regular weekly washes I recommend washing most loads at 20°C for 30 minutes. It's gentler on fabrics, slashes energy use, and still delivers excellent stain removal with the right detergent. A colder wash can actually be more effective if you opt for a bio detergent as its enzymes need cooler water; too hot and they lose their ability to digest stains. A wash at 60°c (unless you have silk sheets) every now and again can help kill off dust mites and other nasties. What's the difference between bio and non-bio detergent? Bio detergents contain enzymes, which are especially good at breaking down tough stains like food, grass, or sweat. It's best used in mid to low temperature washes (ideally between 20-40°C) as anything hotter can cause them not to work effectively. Non-bio skips the enzymes, which in turn makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Although non-bio doesn't contain enzymes, it's still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean, you just may need to use a slightly higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process. Make sure you allow the pillows time to fully dry to avoid any bacteria or mould growing. And remember to always check your pillow's care label and follow the directions accordingly when it comes to washing and drying. According to Anna, most pillows can be washed in the washing machine using this method, including scatter cushions. A laundry expert revealed the top ways to wash each type of pillow at home. There is also a step-by-step guide available for washing your pillows and duvets. Or you can opt to wash your pillows without putting them in your machine.