A retired carpenter discovered his wife had scooped £25,000 from a 50p bet as he lay in a hospital bed recovering from a heart attack.

And the 70-year-old says it was the perfect medication with the devoted duo now planning to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next year in style thanks to their winnings.

Peter and Winnie Smith, from Sidcup , say the windfall will pay for a VIP cruise to the Caribbean or the Maldives.

Mr Smith explained: "It all happened in a few hours. I was rushed to hospital in an ambulance in the early hours and had my operation almost straight away – and then Winnie was on the phone as I was coming round five hours later to see how it had gone when she told me the amazing news. It did me a lot of good.”

The couple, who had two children and three grandchildren, won the cash after Mrs Smith bet 50p on the 49's numbers game at her local Betfred shop . All five of her numbers - based around family birthdays and their wedding day - came up.

She said: "I don’t drink or smoke and just like to have a little flutter.

“I put the bet on like usual for the Saturday draw on the Friday and then in the early hours of Saturday Peter had his heart attack. They knew what was wrong and more or less went straight in for the operation to fit stents at King’s College Hospital at Denmark Hill.

"With all the Covid restrictions I couldn’t visit him but knew when I did speak to him by phone on the recovery ward I knew I would be able to cheer him up with the news that we were £25,000 better off.

“It was the best news we could have had. We’ve got more money now for our new conservatory at home and enough to pay for the very best big holiday next year when it is our golden wedding anniversary and hopefully things are back to normal and people can travel once again.”

Betfred boss of the local branch, Fred Done, added: "It is an amazing coincidence that in their 49th year of marriage they should have a big win on the 49’s - and from such as tiny stake. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to cheer Peter up and boost his recovery."

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