FOUR readers are in the money as the first winners of The Northern Echo's Bingo Daily Lucky Numbers competition.

The four people were the first to call a special hotline yesterday after spotting their numbers in the newspaper.

The winners include pensioner Margaret Wardle, a loyal reader of The Northern Echo, who has had the paper delivered to her home for more than 60 years.

Mrs Wardle, who lives in Newton Aycliffe with her husband Thomas, was delighted to be one of the first four winners who all received £125 cash.

Mrs Wardle, who has five grandchildren, said: "I was really pleased when I saw my number had won.

"Me and my husband have had The Northern Echo delivered since before we were married nearly 62 years ago.

"We will be putting the money straight in the bank but will probably treat our grandchildren with it."

The other winners of Wednesday's Daily Lucky Numbers game were Mary King, of West Rainton, near Durham, Janice Patterson, of Sherburn Road Estate, in Durham, and Norman Spensley, of Stockton.

Every day Lucky Numbers will be printed in The Northern Echo alongside the bingo numbers.

Anyone who matches the number on their bingo card with the one printed should call a special freephone number between 9.30am and 10.30am to be in with a chance of winning. Bingo players can continue to play the main game for the rest of the week to try to win a share of the full house prize.

Each bingo card has ten game grids, which means readers can play the game into November with the chance of winning £10,000.

All winners' names will be featured in the paper.