A LUCKY Lickey End woman is celebrating hitting the jackpot in a game of cards.

Carol Everton of School Lane is looking forward to a very merry Christmas after scooping $20,000, roughly £11,600, in a game of poker.

Carol won the 150 Pot Limit game at a tournament in St Martin's, an island in the Caribbean, which was organised by the International Poker Federation.

More than 120 poker players flew in from all over the globe, including Germany, France and Australia, to take part in the tournament which took place over a number of days. In winning the title she beat off stiff competition from World Series number one Barbara Enright from California, USA.

"I could not believe it when I won. I have had a few smaller wins before, but never this much," said Carol.

She added that she had always played card games but found she had a particular talent for poker after taking it up six years ago. Carol jetted off to the Caribbean haven with friends and enjoyed a short holiday as well as taking part in the tournament.

When the Advertiser/Messenger asked how she intended on spending her winnings she said: "I am looking forward to a very nice Christmas indeed."