A bingo jackpot winner became the target of malicious jibes from jealous rivals after scooping £51,000.

Elsie Wallwork, 77, says her euphoria at getting a full house soon turned to anger and upset when envious players began sniping.

She has been called a "jammy bugger" and accused of walking around the bingo hall as if she owns the place.

Her friends at the hall told her the hurtful comments were being made behind her back by other players.

Mrs Wallwork told The Argus: "There are some nasty, jealous bitches out there and you can quote me on that.

"Some of the comments have been disgusting but it is just pure envy, greed and jealousy that is motivating them.

"They're a bunch of old biddies. There are four-letter words for people like them but I don't often use them."

Mrs Wallwork, a grandmother and retired nurse, got the full house last Saturday with just 42 numbers, the fewest anywhere nationwide on that day.

Her good fortune came a week after her daughter read a prediction by astrologer Mystic Meg who said she would come into some money with her mother.

Sure enough, Mrs Wallwork was overjoyed when the bingo caller said she had scooped £50,000 on the National Bingo Game, a further regional prize of £1,012 and the house prize of £58. Mrs Wallwork was helped by her lucky brass horseshoe, which she always puts with her cards in the bingo hall.

Fellow contestants richly applauded her at the De Luxe Club in Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, and she was toasted with champagne.

She said: "My luck had been out for ages. It was such a shock when they told me how much I had won. I'm not over it yet and I still can't sleep.

"When I found out I had won, I started sweating. They were giving me champagne but I'm not a big drinker. However, I shared it with my homosexual friends. They're the safest friends to have.

"I'm so pleased because I had a rotten April. Everything went wrong. The tyres on the car blew up and then the exhaust went. Plus I've had a lot of stress with my husband going into hospital because of blockages in his arteries.

"It put me under an awful lot of pressure.

"I said to myself if I don't win on the bingo soon then I'm going to give it up for good. And then, oh my God, out of the blue this happens. This must be God's way of repaying all my hard work looking after others."

However, days after Mrs Wallwork's win she was told she was the target of name-calling by rivals bitter at her success.

She said: "If you'd have seen some of their faces, you'd have wept. What's the matter with them? Some of them were very nice, putting their arms round me and saying the money could not have gone to a nicer person.

"But other people said I looked like I owned the place. The thing is they refused to say it to my face but did so through other people.

"I said I didn't want to know. I'm not interested in snide comments like that. It's time they just grew up. I'm 77 and I grew up when I was 14.

"I don't bother with anyone when I'm playing bingo. I just sit alone and get on with it.

"I'm a trained nurse and know how to be polite to people. They should be thankful the money is staying in Eastbourne and has not gone to a holidaymaker."

Mrs Wallwork married 80-year-old retired doctor of engineering John 55 years ago in Scunthorpe. For 14 years, on and off, they lived abroad in places including Spain and the Middle East.

They moved to Eastbourne five years ago and have a daughter, Julie, 47, and a 26-year-old granddaughter Nina, a trainee physiotherapist.

Multilingual Mrs Wallwork, who nursed elderly people in Leicester, goes to bingo every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.

Her only previous big win was £100.

Mr Wallwork has now set his sights on a £9,000 Toyota Yaris, while money will also go to other family members and on a Spanish holiday.

Mrs Wallwork said: "I've already spent £20,000 and I haven't even bought a bar of chocolate.

"At this rate I'll be praying for another win."

Mr Wallwork said: "I thought she was joking when she said she'd won. I thought she meant £51, not £51,000, but it was lovely to find we had won."

His wife is taking a party of ten to the club on Saturday, May 22, to help celebrate her win with a buffet.