A HEREFORD woman is about to make her husband's dream come true after winning more than £176,000 playing bingo at the Gala Club in Berrington Street.

"He has always wanted to swim with dolphins and I am off to book a holiday today," said the winner, who has asked not be identified. "We may also decide to sell our house and buy a cottage in the country."

It was last Sunday that she won the National Bingo Game prize of £175,000, plus a further regional prize of £1,219 and the club prize of £54, having completed a 'full house' in 40 numbers, the fewest anywhere nation-wide.

"The last number I was waiting for was 65,"she said. "My husband was 65 two weeks ago, so it was a belated birthday present for him, and I will be 65 this December. I hope it is a good omen for us."

She has been a bingo player for 25 years plus, while her husband started playing 10 years ago. "It still hasn't sunk in yet," she said still in shock and not having had much sleep. " The weather was so hot we nearly didn't go to bingo. We thought about a ride around the countryside and having a drink in a pub, but then we decided to go the Gala after all, Now were are very glad we did."

She and her husband, who is a self-employed painter and decorator, have two sons and a three-year-old granddaughter who will be looked after from the prize-money. "One of my sons has a contract cleaning business and I work part time for him," she said. "I used to be a telephonist before I retired."