A RETIRED Blackpool nurse has scooped the £5,000 jackpot in a new satellite link bingo game at her local working men's club.

Mary Thompson who lives in the resort with her husband struck lucky at the weekend in this latest bingo craze which links up working men's clubs by satellite.

The 69-year-old is delighted with the windfall she won at LMS Sports and Social Club on Back Ribble Road.

When asked what she would spend the money on she said: "I've never won anything before in my life!

"I am so happy to win and it really couldn't have come at a better time as we have just finished decorating our house.

"My husband and I celebrate our ruby wedding anniversary soon and I think we'll treat ourselves by taking a nice trip holiday in Benidorm."

The new game, developed by Carousel Leisure (UK) Ltd., is being played this summer in working men's club's throughout the UK.

Playing for one big national jackpot, the six-to-view bingo-style flyers are sold in the clubs up to 30 minutes before the start of each game.

The draw of the numbers is carried centrally and broadcast to all the clubs who watch and follow on ClubVision TV.

The game centre, which is run by Littlewoods Leisure in Liverpool, automatically knows the location of the winning ticket and all lucky tickets are swiped through the terminal in each club to validate their win.

Jeremy Collis, who devised the National Flyer game, said: "Yesterday's draw was a huge success -- we're all delighted. Congratulations to Mrs Thompson and good luck to all the players in the next draw."