Caroline Henzell from Newcastle is celebrating a fantastic start to 2008, thanks to winning £150,000 at Mecca Bingo in Gateshead yesterday, a share of a £1million giveaway in free games that took place across the country!

Not only was Caroline’s win completely free, but the 45-year-old has only been working for a month after raising four children, so feels she’s been doubly lucky.

“I knew I was going to win a biggie and consider myself a lucky person and did just have a little inkling that it could be today. Mind you, when I first realised I’d won, I thought it was only £5000, so you can imagine the shock when people told me I’d won £150,000”, she said.

“To say I’m overjoyed is a complete understatement; it’s just brilliant news and an amazing start to the year”, said Caroline, who now works as a housekeeper for the Driving Standards Agency and lives in Walker.

Caroline plans to share the money equally with her daughter, also called Caroline (25), who attends Mecca Gateshead with her mother every Sunday, and there will be treats for husband Leslie, who is unemployed, and her three other children Lesley (23), Anthony (18) and 15-year-old Ryan. Her three grandchildren will also benefit.

The huge win was thanks to the Mecca Millionaire game, launched on 1 September 2007, which saw Britain’s first ever million pound giveaway by any high street bingo operator.

The Mecca Millionaire game is possible thanks to new gambling laws in this country, giving bingo operators the ability to retain a percentage of the player’s stake and give away huge accumulated jackpot winnings. Mecca has made three players millionaires in the last four months alone!

All 103 clubs around the UK took part in a Mecca Millionaire bonanza yesterday, with the two daily games played for free (normal price £2). Players had the chance to win one of three prizes each game, with one line winning £100,000, two lines winning £150,000 and full house winning £264,288.50.

Mark Dadson, manager of Mecca Gateshead, commented: ‘The atmosphere in the club was electric and the best I’ve experienced in 11 years in this industry. We are delighted that through the Mecca Millionaire game we are able to give people real life changing amounts of money. I am sure the Caroline will agree that Mecca really does put on the best game in town!’

A total of £3.5 million has changed the lives of 16 Mecca Millionaire players since September, with nearly £6 million in jackpot payouts across the UK bingo industry as a whole.