Last updated at 09:53, Saturday, 12 July 2008

A great-grandma from Longtown has hit the jackpot and won £70,000 in a bingo game.

I’ve won!Carol White from Longtown

And biscuit factory worker Carol White, 59, has promised to share her good fortune with her sister-in-law after her numbers came up at Carlisle’s Rex Bingo Club.

She was yesterday still stunned by her luck.

The McVitie’s packing supervisor said: “I felt sick when I realised how much I had won. I still can’t believe it.”

The mum-of-three, who has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, was playing at the Denton Holme bingo hall when she scooped the cash on Sunday night.

She and Ellen Rayson, who have been playing weekly at the Rex for five years, have an agreement to share their winnings.

They won the National Bingo Game prize of £67,080, the regional prize of £3,200 and house prize of £112 after completing a full-house in 36 numbers – the lowest call of the 470 clubs playing nationwide.

Carol’s previous top prize was £1,200 two years ago.

She said: “We were both really excited. We have never won that kind of money before. The place was in uproar – everyone was cheering.

“I retire next year and have a big family. I want to give them something and have a good holiday.”

Describing the moment she told painter and decorator husband Michael of her win, she added: “He did not believe me.”

As well as treating her children, Carol plans to take Michael, also 59, on an extra holiday – possibly to China.

Ellen, also of Longtown, plans to use her share of the winnings to take her husband Peter on a special break abroad. The couple both work at Carlisle’s Morrisons supermarket.

The prize has not dampened their enthusiasm for the game.

“We will be there on Sunday,” Carol said.

Rex Bingo Club owner Peter Lawton was delighted with their success.

He said: “It is brilliant. For a regular member to get this is just wonderful.”

Mr Lawton said there was an air of excitement in the hall when news of the win filtered through after results from all over the country were analysed.

The Denton Street club’s best prize run was between June 6 and August 7 2005 when players won prizes of £52,000, £80,000 and £201,000.

Carol’s success is Cumbria’s second big bingo win in a matter of days.

Last week, 79-year-old great-grandmother Ada Borrowdale, from Shap scooped £27,000 while playing at Penrith’s Opera Bingo Club.

First published at 09:21, Saturday, 12 July 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk