A paramedic and mum from Blackburn is putting money towards a house deposit after scooping a lottery jackpot.

Samantha Doyle entered the East Lancashire Lottery in January and less than a week after signing up found out she had won £1,000.

The East Lancashire Lottery is drawn weekly and Samantha, who often attends the hospice with patients, said she had been meaning to enter for weeks to support the work of the charity.

She said: “I had been thinking about it again before Christmas but just never got around to it.”

Samantha was finally pushed to log onto the website on January 19 after following the hospice and Facebook and five days later, found out she had won £1,000.

When asked how the money will be spent, Samantha replied: “We are in the middle of moving so it is going towards the deposit for our new home.

“I’ve done other lotteries, but never really won much, so this was a fantastic surprise.”

She has now encouraged other family members to sign up and she now has her eye on the rollover.

She added: “I knew it was going directly to the hospice, and the fantastic work they do, but winning, and so quickly after signing up is surreal.”

Gabrielle Williamson, marketing and communications coordinator at East Lancashire Hospice, said: “For Samantha to join and win after just one week is incredible, but we are so pleased we are helping her fund her house move.

“The lottery is a way for our supporters to show their support with an added bonus of winning something back.”

To enter the lottery visit the website Lottery (eastlancshospice.org.uk) or pick up a leaflet from one of the shops or from the hospice.