AN eagle-eyed reader has hit the jackpot after picking up a discarded Northern Echo bingo card.

Judith Whittaker is £750 richer after finding the card outside her work at the Electrolux factory in her home town of Spennymoor last week.

She decided to take the card home in case one had not arrived with her daily copy of The Northern Echo.

And her lucky find has come up trumps after she got a full house in the game and bagged the first jackpot prize.

Speaking after ringing to claim her prize, Mrs Whittaker said: "I can't believe it, especially after I picked the card up off the street.

"There is a stand selling The Northern Echo outside the factory gates in the morning, so I think my card must have fallen out of someone's paper.

"I don't know who lost their card, I'm just glad I picked it up and played the game."

Mrs Whittaker, 58, and her husband Brian are planning to put their winnings in the bank while they decide what to spend it on.

She said: "We haven't decided exactly what to buy yet. We will probably go on holiday somewhere in this country and my little grand-daughter, Jasmine, will get a few treats."

So far, The Northern Echo bingo and lucky numbers have created ten winners including Mrs Whittaker.

Between them the winners have shared a total of £1,750 out of the game jackpot of £10,000.

Tens of thousands of people have joined in the rush to play the new bingo game, which is featured every day in The Northern Echo. Many have placed orders to receive the paper to ensure they don't miss their chance of winning.

Following Mrs Whittaker's win, the second game in The Northern Echo daily cash bingo started yesterday. Over the next week another full house winner will be found as well as Lucky Numbers winners every day.

To claim a prize in the competition, or to order the paper, phone The Northern Echo on freephone (0800) 132401 between 9.30am and 10.30am the day after winning numbers are published.