DISABLED Nicola Kirk won Christmas cash on the lottery – and then lost most of it in Ely city centre. Within hours of celebrating her good fortune and collecting her winnings she was devastated when she realised she had dropped £250 while out buying prese

DISABLED Nicola Kirk won Christmas cash on the lottery - and then lost most of it in Ely city centre.

Within hours of celebrating her good fortune and collecting her winnings she was devastated when she realised she had dropped £250 while out buying presents.

Nicola, 42, who is a familiar face shopping in her motorised scooter with her dog Jack, quickly returned to scour Market Place and The Cloisters for the lost money.

She even went to Ely Police Station but no-one had handed in the cash.

Nicola's mother, Judith, said: "She thinks it probably fell out of her purse while she was paying for presents.

"She had only just collected her winnings. I was in Holland and she phoned me so excited that she had won."

Nicola, who lives on disability benefit and income support, won £310 in the National Lottery draw by choosing four correct numbers.

On Monday last week she left her home in St Catherine's, Ely and went into the city centre to do her Christmas shopping.

She visited Peacock's in The Cloisters and Woolworth's on Market Place around 10am and returned home around 12.30am.

Now she hopes a kind-hearted shopper will have picked up the money and return it.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact the Ely Standard at 38, Market Street, Ely or by phone on 01353 667831 or take the money into Ely Police Station.