FOR the fifth time this year the Hospiscare Lottery has awarded the jackpot of £1,000 to a town resident.

Marilyn Wheaton, of Okehampton, found out she was the lucky winner of the weekly lottery on Friday, July 25.

Marilyn has played the Hospiscare Lottery every week for two years and had previously collected a couple of £10 wins.

She said: 'The good thing about this lottery is that you know where the money is going.'

Hospiscare is a charity that has been running for 25 years. Initially, a community nursing centre for central Exeter it has now grown to serve a population of around 320,000 from Okehampton in the west through Tiverton and Exeter to Axminster and Seaton in the east.

Two of the 30 Hospiscare nurses are based in Okehampton. They help care for the terminally ill in their own homes by providing specialist nursing care and emotional support.

The Hospiscare Lottery raises more than £200,000 every year for the charity. The draw is held every Friday and costs £1, with more than 40 cash prizes on offer, the top prize being £1,000.

Geoff Stamp, the Hospiscare Lottery manager, said: 'We have 8,700 regulars who play each and every week.

'More than 65p in every pound of Hospiscare Lottery goes straight to providing services to local people, supporting our nurses in the community, at the hospital and at the hospice.'

For more information on the lottery call 01392 498429 or visit http://www.hospiscare.co.uk">www.hospiscare.co.uk