Deborah gets ticket to freedom

(Deborah Pocklington won £1,000) 

The top cash winner of the latest Northwards Xtra prize draw said she will be able to reclaim her freedom and get her mobility scooter fixed.

Mother-of-four Deborah Pocklington won £1,000 after being automatically entered into the draw which is exclusively for tenants without rent arrears and who have not broken any rules of their tenancy agreement.

The 54-year-old Moston resident, who has severe mobility problems, said her scooter broke down around eight weeks ago and she had been reliant on taxis for very short trips.

She said: “The money is life-changing. I thought it was a joke when I heard I’d won. I didn’t believe it.

“I had to ring up the housing office to make sure it was true.”

Deborah, who is cared for by partner George Crosby, 57, said she also planned to treat her mother to a new fridge.

Mr Crosby said: “We just keep ourselves to ourselves. The bills come first. If you have a roof over your head, you can go from there. You can’t do anything if you haven’t got anywhere to live.”

Other winners

The other winners were: Gbolahan Kotun (£500) and David Booth (£250). The following tenants won a host of other prizes: Patrick Teehan, Michael West, Derek Hayes, Michael Treadgold, Frank Brooks, Pamela Anderson, Edna Toole and Michael J Thomas.

The Northwards Xtra draw takes place three times per year. 

Find out more about Northwards Xtra.