Two pensioners are celebrating their success after winning more than £23,000. The duo bingo pals from Bury, St Edmunds are sharing the money that Joyce Middleton, 80, won on the national bingo game at Winner Bingo.
Having claimed the full house on 42 numbers, she won the national and zone jackpot prizes, and was somewhat shocked as previously the pair had not won more than £50.

Joyce who has been a regular bingo player since her husband Jim died 22 years ago is sharing half the money with her friend, Yvonne Turner, 67.

"Yvonne has been a brick since my husband died," Joyce commented. "Afterwards, she said I needed to get out and invited me to bingo and we've been going ever since. We've always shared our winnings."

She added "Yvonne was worse than me afterwards, she kept asking if I was alright and she made me sleep round hers that night as she said I wouldn't be able to sleep.

"Then, in the morning, she said she had still been awake at 2.45am as all she could think was '£23,000'."

Joyce has no plans to splash out but said that her family as well as her friend would benefit from the win.

"There's nothing I want, I shall give the kids some - they'll all get a little bit - but I haven't told them yet.... The thing I am most pleased for is my mate - we always share and this win is no different to any other."

The Manager of Winners Bingo, Sally Bowers commented: "The moment she won was wonderful. She got a big round of applause and everyone congratulated her. She's a regular and a really lovely lady - we couldn't have chosen a nicer person to win it.

"When it came to the next game of bingo she was still shaking, but she managed to carry on."