By Claire Warrender

A GROUP of Fife friends who lost hundreds of pounds when vouchers firm Farepak went into administration are celebrating a £100,000 bingo win.

The six women from Kirkcaldy had thought Christmas would be a bleak affair after Farepak went down the tubes, but they have now pledged to share the win and hit the shops.

The ecstatic women, who asked not to be named, won the national prize during their annual shopping “pilgrimage” to Newcastle last week.

Dave Robson, manager of the Gala Club in Byker, said the group went “absolutely wild” when it was announced how much they had won.

The lucky winner and her friends have been making the trip to Newcastle for nine years, but this year decided to play at a different club from usual.

“We just love it and usually play bingo at the Mecca Club when we are there,” said the 56-year-old winner. “But the taxi driver said there was a new club in the city so we went to play at Gala.”

The nursing auxiliary added that she normally played at the Gala in Glenrothes but hadn’t taken her card with her to Newcastle, so had to be given a new one.

She then went on to win the National Bingo Game prize of £100,000, plus the house prize of £80, having completed a full house in 40 numbers, the fewest in any of the 500 clubs taking part nationwide.

“One of the girls also won a £170 house so we split that straightaway. We will all get £16,666 each when the cheque arrives.

“Although we had been shopping for three days, some of them went back to the shops on the Saturday.”

She said her husband and two daughters were delighted.

“The others were more excited than I was and were phoning everyone from the club to tell them the news.

“They had all lost money in Farepak vouchers, most of them about £150. Luckily I had done mine with a different company.

“We’re not worried about Christmas now and it will be a good one all round.”