IT was a jackpot Christmas for one Tavistock lady, as she bagged several thousand pounds in a St Luke’s lottery win.

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth supporter Gill Pinch toasted a happy holiday after winning the jackpot in the charity’s lottery game, scooping £7,600 just in time for Christmas.

Under new rules recently introduced for the game, alongside the weekly top prize of £1,000 there is a side pot of £200 which rolls over each week until someone’s number comes up. After 38 weeks without a winner, the the first jackpot was a bumper haul for Gill, who has been playing the weekly game for 17 years.

Gill said: ‘This is for sure my biggest win on anything, I still can’t believe it! I am going to share out my winnings between my son, daughter and grandchildren. The remainder I am going to buy a new carpet for the sitting room and maybe treat my husband and I to a holiday later in the year.

‘St Luke’s have cared for many of our friends and with the amazing work they do in and around the Tavistock community the charity is close to our hearts. I like to support St Luke’s where I can. I have taken part in the Midnight Walk, including the 30-mile anniversary walk and I’m a regular at the Tavistock charity shop and open gardens.’

The odds of winning the St Luke’s regular top prize of £1,000 is higher than winning a prize of similar value in the National Lottery’s Lotto Draw and half the price. Players can have a number from £1 per week.

St Luke’s head of fundraising Hayley Dann said: ‘Profits made by the lottery go directly towards the day to day costs of patient care in peoples’ homes, Derriford Hospital or at the hospice in Turnchapel. In its 20-year history the lottery has raised over £3-million — a vital income to help us continue to provide specialist end of life care to people from the local community.’

l To sign up or for more information visit www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/lottery