A NEWPORT bingo caller was celebrating last night after his number came up in a national competition.

Peter Lewis, 59, bingo caller at the Castle Club, Usk Way, Newport, won the Welsh final of the Bingo Caller of the Year Competition - and now he's through to the UK final.

More than 620 people gathered at the Welsh final in Carmarthen Road, Swansea, last night. Mr Lewis said: "I am stunned, this is the second time I have managed to get through. I won the Welsh final in 2002. I am very pleased."

He will now go on to compete against the best bingo callers in Britain at the UK championships in November.

Mr Lewis had to show his knowledge of the game and then had three minutes on stage to call a game of bingo.

Mr Lewis has been a bingo caller for two years. He said: "I enjoy it. Prior to that I was 30 years in showbusiness.

"With bingo calling I have an audience, on stage and I have got a microphone. I still love getting up there with a microphone."

Mr Lewis won a glass trophy yesterday in Swansea, but the winner of the British title will receive £500 in prize money and an all- expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, where they will call a game.

Robert (Will) Willard, 29, bingo caller from the Mecca club in Cwmbran, was also a finalist in the competition.

Among the judges was 'Quick' Mike Vyse, of Pentregethin Road, Ravenhill, Swansea, who works at Mecca Bingo in Cwmbwrla.

Mr Vyse, who was crowned UK champ last year, said this year's five shortlisted finalists offered a great standard of competition.

"It was a great competition and it has been really difficult to judge," he said. "But we've got a worthy winner."