IT was a very happy New Year for a care home worker, after she won £500 in The Bolton News’ bingo competition.

Marilyn Herbert, aged 61, of Ryelands Court, Westhoughton, came out on top in week five of our contest after entering it for the first time just before Christmas. Mother-of-one Mrs Herbert, who is a scheme manager at a sheltered housing home in Westhoughton, says she plans to put the money towards a holiday fund.

She said: “I was shocked when I got the phone call to tell me I’d won. I just sent my entry off and hoped for the best.

"I don’t really enter a lot of competitions, so this has come as a big surprise. I’m not normally this lucky — it’s just a bit of fluke.

"My family and friends are delighted for me and I’m sure everybody at the home will be pleased for me when they find out.”

Previous winners of the competition include Ann Davis, who has never actually been to bingo before because she is too nervous to shout “full house”.

And Ivy Elliott, aged 79, of Hulton Lane, Deane, said she plans to treat her grandchildren after her name was drawn in the first week of our competition, while Christine Gordon, aged 57, of Calvert Road, Great Lever, could not believe her luck when she was told she was one of the first few winners of our contest.