GRANDMOTHER Joan Bell is celebrating an early 70th birthday present after success in the BBC1's lottery programme Winning Lines.

Joan, from Crosland Moor, whose birthday is on Thursday, won a three-week, round-the- world trip after correctly answering 20 questions without taking a break or "pit-stop" on the Saturday night prime-time show.

"It's been wonderful. I've had cards, flowers and a bottle of champagne from friends and colleagues wishing me well," said Joan an administrator for chartered accountants Mazars in Huddersfield town centre.

Joan, who lives with husband Geoff, 68, at Sunningdale Road, has yet to decide where she will visit during the experience of a lifetime.

She mentioned New Zealand, New Orleans and New England on the show, hosted by Philip Schofield.

She said she had been secretary to a maths lecturer called Bob Alexander at Bradford University and he had sent her postcards of his travels to those places and she had always wanted to visit.

A visit to her son and daughter-in-law in Thailand and another chance to catch up with seven-year-old grandson Ben could also be included.

Geoff will need to get the all-clear from doctors before he undertakes the long-haul flight. He had a pacemaker fitted in January and may not be able to take the trip.

But Joan said if he could not make the trip she would be accompanied by childhood friend Shirley Williamson, from Otley.

The women have been friends since they were three years old.

Geoff said: "We've had lots of calls from people congratulating Joan.

"She was absolutely fantastic and when she came back into the hospitality room following the show everyone stood up and clapped and cheered."

Mr Bell is retired. He was a project manager for a Bradford-based office furniture company.

The couple, who have both been married before, have three children between them.

Geoff has a son, Richard, and Joan has a son, Michael, who lives in Thailand with his wife, Pavisuth, and son Ben, seven.

Joan's daughter, Janet, lives at Low Moor, Bradford, with son Gus, six.