Court battle over bingo share

The women had agreed to split their winnings

Two grandmothers have won a legal battle after their playing partner refused to split a £213,000 prize with them.

Nora Sinkinson, 63, and Kathy Durr, 64, went to Mecca Bingo in Southport, Merseyside, with 69-year-old Doreen Currie last October.

The three friends agreed to share any winnings and were delighted when Mrs Currie called "house" and won £119, sharing the cash three ways.

But later Mrs Currie scooped £213,000 on a national game, took all the cash for herself and declared: "There's only one winner."

The women, all from Southport, went to Liverpool County Court this week, where a judge ordered Mrs Currie to honour the sharing agreement and pay her ex-bingo partners £71,000 each, plus £3,000 interest.

I have always said that it doesn't matter who calls 'house', you buy the tickets together, you share them out and you all have an equal stake in them

Nora Sinkinson

Mrs Sinkinson, an assistant psychiatric nurse and grandmother-of-one, said she was relieved to have struck a blow for the traditional system of sharing bingo spoils.

She said: "I have always said that it doesn't matter who calls 'house', you buy the tickets together, you share them out and you all have an equal stake in them.

"Go to any bingo hall and you will find nearly everyone plays it that way.

"That was our agreement on the night and that is why she paid us on the first win.

I stand by what happened on the night. There's only one winner

Doreen Currie

"It is such a shame we had to go to court, as it has caused a lot of fuss and aggravation.

"I'm relieved it's all over and I'm pleased we won, not just because of the money but because the judge has made it clear that sharing agreements are legally binding and have to be followed.

"I hope that stops other bingo players going through the same thing that we have."

Mrs Durr, a guest-house owner and grandmother-of-four, added: "I am ecstatic about winning the money but we have lost a friendship."

Mrs Currie refused to discuss the case.

But she said: "How would you feel about losing that much money?

"I stand by what happened on the night. There's only one winner."