A BIG win on the bingo often brings out the best in Furness folk with plenty of examples of money being shared among friends and family.

The Mail, on August 20 in 1991, noted: "Two Walney housewives have won the £54,000 jackpot in a national bingo games.

"Olive Cook, 72, an her neighbour Julie Rutherford, 33 won the money at Barrow's Top Rank bingo hall.

"Mrs Cook won the nationwide top prize, beating more than 200,000 other competitors - and immediately vowed to share it with her neighbour and bingo companion of more than two years."

Mrs Rutherford, who used to work in the bingo hall, said: "It's unbelievable but we have been here for two years and just shared everything.

"She looks after me and I look after her.

"Bingo is our night out. That's all we do."

Coronation Street actor Nick Cochrane, who played Andy McDonald, was at the Cascade Palace bingo hall, in Duke Street, Barrow, in August 1997 to hand over a cheque for £73,000.

The Mail, on August 4, noted: "Generous Anne Lauderdale, 58, of Vicarage Mount, Walney, is sharing her prize with best friend Brenda Craig."

Mrs Lauderdale said: "I've been playing bingo for about 16 years.

"This the first big win. But I've won £400, £300 and the odd £10.

"I share everything, big or small, with my friend so I will split it in half with her."

The Mail, on July 23 in 1997, noted: "A Barrow mum is planning her family's first foreign holiday in years after scooping more than £4,000 on the bingo.

"Cheryl Cutcliffe, who lives in Provincial Street won the money while playing at the Pavilion bingo hall on Roose Road."

The Mail, on November 18 in 1993, noted: "When Dalton hairdresser Christine Reynolds called 'bingo' little did she know that she had netted a £49,300 fortune.

"Half an hour later, bosses at Barrow's Cascade Palace bingo hall told her she'd won a regional prize of £4,286 and she began celebrating with her mum and the two friends she had promised to split her winnings with.

"But then news came through that she had hit the jackpot and clinched the £45,000 prize in a nationwide game as well."

Christine, her mum Jean Mossop, her friend Pam McKie and Pam's mum Linda Miles had been going to the Cascade Palace, in Duke Street, Barrow, for a year.

Christine, a hairdresser of Levens close, Dalton, said: "We always split our winnings when one of us wins.

"We won £1,000 about six weeks ago which was great but we were just too shocked to go out and celebrate after last night's win."