An 82-year-old great-grandmother who has played bingo for "donkey's years" has hit the jackpot.

The lucky winner scooped more than £51,000 at Clacton's Gala Club on Saturday night.

She won the national bingo game prize of £50,000, plus a further regional prize of £1,083 and the club prize of £107.

The winner completed the full house in 40 numbers - the fewest anywhere nationwide, with some 500 clubs linked up for the game.

Everyone in the club cheered as the win was verified over the club tannoy and the winner asked for a brandy.

The winner, who does not wished to be named, comes from the Clacton area.

She said: "I have just got all my money back that I have paid in all these years. It is probably 50 years since I started playing bingo."

Published Thursday January 22, 2004

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