AN 80-year-old Grays woman has won £25,000 in the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund Lottery.

Mrs Eugenie Richardson, of Buxton Road, scooped the prize in August's draw.

The FSNBF was set up to provide support and assistance to serving or retired personnel and their families through sheltered accommodation, therapy, and financial support - if needed. The charity which helps over 11,000 people every year started running the lottery in November 2002.

Mrs Richardson first heard about the charity as her husband Donald, who passed away in April 2006, worked for the London Fire Brigade at the Romford station.

She has split the majority of her prize between her three children, but has remarkably donated £2000 back to the FSNBF. She said of her decision: "I wanted to give something back because the Benevolent Fund has always been wonderful to me, I have an appointed welfare officer who is always ringing me to check that I am ok.

"Recently I contacted Grays fire station with a query and they were also fantastic."

The tickets cost £1.00 and aproximately 50p of each ticket sold goes to the FSNBF.

Mrs Richardson, who spends £10.00 per month on tickets, added: "I was absolutely suprised to find out I had won, In fact I felt quite ill for a few days afterwards."

When asked if she would continue to do the FSNBF lottery she said: "Definately, its such a good cause."

The lottery is open to everyone to enter. For more information please visit www.fsnbf.org.uk, or call 0870 759 8868.