Groom-to-be wins mammoth £50,000 jackpot at bingo just months before his wedding

A bingo fan is planning his dream wedding after landing a massive £50,000 months before he says 'I do'.

Phil Bacon, 35, was on a night out with a pal when they decided to visit their local Mecca in Stevenage, Hertfordshire on April 1 this year.

A regular player, he noticed he was getting close to a full house and initially thought he was on to win a few hundred pounds.

When he called house within 16 numbers he realised he had bagged the massive £50,000 grand prize instead.

Now he says he will be able to have an amazing wedding party instead of a cut-price affair when he marries fiancée Cara-Jane Pallett later this summer.

Phil, a delivery operator, said of the huge win: “I couldn't believe it when I won the jackpot.

"I never expected to win such a huge amount of money, and I'm still in shock.

Phil was shocked when he realised he had won the jackpot (Getty Images)

"I've been visiting Mecca Bingo for a while now and it's always a great night out, but this is something else.

“I feel amazing, this has been completely life-changing."

Tim Perry, general manager at Mecca Bingo Stevenage, added: "Not only is Phil good at matching numbers, but he's also met his match.

“We couldn't be more excited for the happy couple as they plan their wedding."

Earlier this year it was revealed which bingo hall is the luckiest in the UK as it was announced winnings worth £148million were handed out to players in 2022.

Mecca Bingo said its luckiest venues are in the North East and Yorkshire, where players scooped a staggering £28.7million (£28,736,537) last year.

The huge amount is enough to do the weekly food shop - an average of £86 per week - for almost every resident in Newcastle and Durham.

Stockton was named the luckiest town based on the total amount of winnings, as fortunate players raked in a share of nearly £4.5million (£4,419,265) in prize money last year - equivalent to almost £85,000 a week.

Across its 64 venues, Mecca Bingo gave away a staggering £148,422,033 - enough to live in the most expensive suite at The Ritz for 80 years.

Mike Sime, head of bingo at Mecca Bingo, said on the volume of winnings this year: "Times may be tough, but bingo is all about creating communities and accessible entertainment and we’re delighted to reveal that our clubs have handed out such life-changing amounts of money throughout 2022.

"It's an amazing way to end another brilliant year at Mecca Bingo.”