A mum-of-four who won £32,000 on a hit quiz show has revealed how her family's two-year life of luxury has finally come to an end.

Fiona Wheeler, 35, a housewife from Canvey, won the money on the ITV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in January 1999.

After paying off all her credit debts she treated husband Matthew, 30, and children Christopher, 14, Ian, 12, Laura, seven, and Spencer, five, to holidays and other treats.

Now she is back to square one and is planning to start a career.

Fiona, of Fourth Walk, told a national newspaper: "Before my win, I'm sure we were in the same situation as many families struggling to keep our heads above water despite Matthew working seven days a week as an electrician.

"I knew most people who got on the show won at least £1,000, so I thought if I could do that we could take the kids on holiday for the first time.

"If I won £8,000, I knew we could clear all our credit debts. I never thought in my wildest dreams I'd win £32,000. After paying off my debts, I took the whole family to Greece, including my father-in-law Dave, who was my 'phone-a-friend'."

She added: "It was the first time the children had been on a plane and I also took the family on a skiing holiday to Bulgaria, so we could have a white Christmas last year in a log cabin. I must have spent £10,000 on the two holidays put together but it was worth it.

"I always said that I'd bathe up to my neck in chocolate if I won and I did, thanks to a TV company who filmed me. It was the most wonderful feeling."

Chocaholic - after enjoying her £32,000 winnings, Fiona Wheeler is back where she was, only without the debts

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.