Yahoo News First holiday abroad and retirement on the cards as Stockton mum wins £50k jackpot
A Teesside bingo lover has scooped a whopping £50,000 jackpot prize, and plans to give a very special gift - early retirement to her mum.
Joanne Bell, 43, bagged the National Bingo Game jackpot on Tuesday, June 18, whilst enjoying a game with her mum, sister and niece at Mecca Bingo on Stockton's Chandlers Wharf. The mum-of-four was left gobsmacked after scooping the huge prize within the first 16 numbers being called.
''Everyone around me was saying 'you've won the jackpot, you've won the jackpot'. I was like 'no...' Then I looked down at the screen and realised I had...it was just so surreal!
The lucky winner usually attends Mecca Bingo twice a week with her sister and mum, who introduced her to the game, but believes the additional presence of her niece that evening was her lucky charm. In celebration, generous Joanne has decided to split her winnings with her three relatives.
"My mum was planning on retiring next year, but now she said she's going to retire at Christmas! She'll probably treat herself to a few holidays. She deserves it. She's been a proper worker all her life," Joanne added.
Joanne will be spending her winnings on her family, house renovations and a holiday is "definitely on the cards" as she revealed that she's "never been abroad".
Jess Heron, a caller at Mecca Bingo Stockton, said: "Joanne's jaw was on the floor when she realised she had won the £50,000. I even screamed 'we've won the big one!
"Everyone in the venue was on cloud nine and I've never known an atmosphere like it! It gave me goosebumps to see how excited everyone was. Other customers were coming over and congratulating her.
"We had a mini celebration on the night, and made a real fuss of Joanne and her family. They were just so appreciative and overwhelmed."
