EYES down -- it's bingo time at a local Sue Ryder home.

Residents of Cuerden Hall, Bamber Bridge can play all day long thanks to the generosity of regulars at Preston's Gala bingo club who donated £200 to buy a new bingo machine for the home.

Cuerden Hall's fund-raising officer, Helen Stansfield, said: "One of my first jobs on coming here was to ask our heads of department to draw up a 'wish list'. Our activities co-ordinator put 'new bingo machine' at the top of hers because the one we have is prehistoric.

"The residents love to play bingo but the machine makes so much noise, they can't hear the numbers being called."

Quick-thinking Helen got in touch with the famous bingo club to ask where she could buy a new machine. But manager David Kay jumped at the chance to order the home a new machine from suppliers, Edward Thompson Ltd, at half the cost.

David said: "Our members raised more than we need for the machine, so we are also giving the Sue Ryder Home a cheque for £150 to buy additional equipment for their multi-sensory room. Edward Thompson's generosity meant we could also buy them a CD player, which Just Jewellery let us have at half-price."