A GRANDMOTHER, whose booming voice landed her in trouble with bingo bosses, is enjoying a winning streak.

Gwen Stapleton, 65, barred herself from Cascade Bingo in Spennymoor, County Durham, last year when fellow players complained about her loud call of House.

She left the club in protest when she was asked by the manager to lower her voice, which measured on a decibel meter almost as loud as an ambulance siren.

After Gwen's plight was featured in The Northern Echo, she was invited to swap allegiance to a Teesside club. Since joining it, she has pocketed more than £5,000.

She said: "I have been so lucky since I left the Cascade club. I have won so many times and have even had two £800 wins.

"The Cascade club did me a big favour by asking me to keep quiet. I have won a lot more since I left."

Caller Tony Shannon, from the Mecca club in Stockton, the biggest in the North-East, invited Gwen for an eyes down when he heard her loud call was not welcome in the Spennymoor hall.

She now regularly travels to Stockton's Chandler Wharf to exercise her vocal cords and is enjoying the game again.

She said: "The other players in Spennymoor were just jealous that I called House more than them, but now I'm doing even better.

"At Stockton they encourage you to shout loudly, as they do in every other club except the one in Spennymoor."

Since leaving Cascade Bingo, Gwen's 95 decibel call has brought her nationwide fame. She was invited to launch a new lottery game for Ladbrookes and was given the VIP treatment when she travelled to London for the first draw.

But despite her fame, her old club has not been in touch.

She said: "I have not heard from the club. They have always said I can go back but only if I keep my voice down.

"But I enjoy bingo so much more now. I haven't forgotten what happened, but I definitely think I'm the winner.