It is a life changing amount of money.

But when Postcode Lottery officials turned up to pensioner Albert Hamilton’s Thornaby home with a £60,000 cheque, he simply whispered with “wee-he”.

The lucky punter scooped the hefty jackpot after being the only Briar Road resident to play, having bought two tickets.

“I thought it would be for about £2,000,” admitted Albert.

“I was rather over the moon.

“It was a heck of a win.”

He had only been playing the game for a few months when Street Prize presenter Judie McCourt turned up at his doorstep.

With five grandkids and two children, he now plans on splashing the cash by treating his loved ones - including wife Beverley.

“We’re really going to think about how to spend the winnings, we’re still getting our heads round it,” he said.

“We would like to go to Malta on holiday.”

Punters spend £10 a month on tickets with 30% of that going towards good causes.

A project near Thornaby, Focus on Vision CIC, was awarded £2,000 by the game last year to promote social inclusion for the public benefit of visually impaired people in the Tees Valley.

There were also a celebrations in nearby Hartlepool this month, as the second Street Prize was won by 10 lucky players in postcode TS27 4BF.

Judie McCourt said: “I really enjoyed meeting Albert today and getting to show him how much he’d won.

“I’m sure he and his family will put the money to good use.”