A Colchester bank worker was today celebrating after scooping £107,000 at bingo.

And Patricia Smith, 52, of Ipswich Road, has decided to share the money with her best friend and next-door neighbour Rita Phillips, 60.

Mrs Phillips may use the cash to pay for a back operation for her husband, Keith.

Mrs Smith, who will stay in her job at HSBC in Colchester, won the national game prize of £100,000 plus the regional prize of £7,017 at the Gala Club in Osborne Street last night.

She said: "I felt lucky just before the national game and said this is the one. I used my green pen because green is my lucky colour, and it was."

She added: "This has come at just the right time for Rita and me.

"It will help a lot of people and that's what I will do with it."

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