'Justice' for couple who thought they had lost £10,000 prize

A COUPLE'S numbers eventually came up after they feared they would miss out on a jackpot cash prize because of a technical hitch.

Mike and Denise Fleming, of Stourport, thought the £10,000 windfall had slipped through their fingers as they endured an anxious wait before Kidderminster's Shipleys Bingo Club finally agreed to pay up.

Mr and Mrs Fleming were "over the moon" when they received the cheque on New Year's Day.

For the Worcester Road couple it marked a happy outcome after they thought they had lost out on the money.

The drama began when Mr Fleming called "house" after his last number was called at the popular bingo club, off New Road.

But the game over-ran at a number of other venues across the country and a further six numbers were called until the £10,000 jackpot prize was awarded to someone else.

The news left the couple bitterly disappointed and they set up a petition to reclaim the prize they believed to be rightfully theirs.

The matter was resolved 10 days later when Shipleys' directors watched a recording of the game and confirmed Mr Fleming had called in time, before the subsequent numbers were drawn, on Sunday, December 11.

Mr Fleming, 63, said: "We went through mixed emotions - anger and disappointment - to relief when the matter was resolved.

"The directors have been very understanding and I'm delighted with the result. I feel justice has been served."

The couple, who have been playing the game for the past six years, will split the prize with neighbours, Judy and Alan Hines, with whom they have formed a syndicate. They are hoping to take a holiday together in Australia later this year.

Mrs Hines, 55, added: "At first, we felt robbed as we're unlikely to ever win that sort of money again but we're delighted the matter has been sorted out and are looking forward to the holiday."

Director of Shipleys Bingo and Social Club, Jim Shipley, said: "The game over-ran. The number was called but it does not look like it was heard by people in Kidderminster, as everyone was celebrating.

"We're now looking into the reasons why the game continued. Whether it was human or technical error, we don't know at the moment until we have carried out our investigations.

"However, Mr and Mrs Fleming won the prize fair and square and we always try to do the right thing by our customers. We are pleased to say the cheque has now been handed over to the winners."