A PENSIONER from Inwardleigh has scooped the top prize in a charity lottery after buying her ticket at the Hospiscare shop in Okehampton.

The £1,000 prize was presented to Margaret Ellacott at the shop in the Arcade by Hospiscare lottery manager Michael Goodwin on Tuesday.

Mrs Ellacott said she was 'shocked' when she received the surprise telephone call telling her the good news.

'I never dreamt of such a thing! If I'd had £100 I would have been thrilled,' said Mrs Ellacott.

'My grand-daughter suffered from cancer and I usually like to support these things, so I thought I'd give it a try — I don't do the other lottery,' she said.

Mrs Ellacott is planning to spend her windfall on some decorating at her home.

She said it was 'wonderful' that she would have the money to have it done.

Mrs Ellacott's win was just the second draw in a new lottery scheme run by Hospiscare — the first was made at the Devon County Show.

'Last weekend we had a lovely couple who are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, this week we have a pensioner,' said Mr Goodwin, who has the pleasant job of contacting the weekly winners.

'It's glorious, it's the most joyful thing I can say I have ever done in my life.

'It's very thrilling for me, especially when you get this wonderful reaction,' he said.

He said the lottery club was started to raise regular funds for Hospiscare, which costs almost £2-million a year to run.

There are 40 prizes up for grabs each week, from the £1,000 top prize to a £100 second prize, £75 third prize and right down to 20 £5 prize-winning tickets.

'Okehampton is doing really well,' said Mr Goodwin. 'Our big push at the moment is to enrol more members into our £1 per week lottery club.

'We also need a canvasser in the Okehampton area!'

Hospiscare provides 23 community nurses, some of whom work in the Okehampton area, and there is a day centre and 12 in-patient beds at the hospice in Exeter.

'It's purely a local charity — a lot of people think it's a national charity or part of Marie Curie, but we are purely independent and local,' said Mr Goodwin, who added that the service provided to patients with life-threatening illnesses and their families is completely free.

Anyone who would like to canvas for Hospiscare in the Okehampton area should ring Michael Goodwin on 01392 498429.