A Bradford nurse scooped an early wedding present today (Dec 22) as she drove off in a brand new luxury car after winning the top prize in a local NHS draw.

Mother-of-two, Katie South, a theatre sister at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, collected her brand new Audi A1 from Chief Executive, Bryan Millar.

“I’ve never won anything before in my life” said Katie, 47. “So when I got the call to say that I’d won the car I was over the moon and very excited.

“I’m getting married in February so this is a great surprise. When I called my partner, Mike, to tell him that I’d won the car he was speechless and didn’t believe me at first, but I think it is slowly starting to sink in.”

Katie, who is originally from Derby, has worked at the Bradford Royal Infirmary for the past eight years and is now a sister in the hospital’s two general surgery theatres.

She won the dream prize after taking part in the 50:50 staff lottery, a staff scheme and registered charity, run by Bradford’s hospitals, Bradford District Care Trust and NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds.

Staff donate at least £1 a month to the lottery and cash prizes of £1000 are handed out every month. The draw also gives away a holiday every summer and a car at Christmas.

“I only pay £1 a month so it’s unbelievable to think I have come away with a car worth thousands,” added Katie.

Around 2,400 NHS staff across Bradford take part in the lottery which has raised £500,000 for good causes and another £500,000 in membership prizes over its 22 year history.