A PORTHMADOG grandmother has scooped a bumper cash prize with only hours to spare.

On New Year’s Eve, Gwyneth Williams, 63, won a race against time to collect her £57,000 Betfred prize.

Betfred boss Fred Done ordered Operation Pimpernella – a mission to find the mystery winner, who it was known had placed her £8 bet on the Irish Lotto at Porthmadog.

The bookie feared she was going to miss out on the lotto consolation prize rollover draw as she had failed to come forward for 13 days.

50 wanted posters were put up throughout Porthmadog and the bookies sent out an urgent appeal to find the lucky winner.

Betfred staff were ordered to the town to try to find the woman, who was pictured on security cameras but who name remained unknown.

Peter Spencer, Owen Bashford and Paul Fisher from Betfred spent six hours in stormy Wales touring villages in and around Porthmadog quizzing locals and seeking help from publicans, postmen, bank staff, chemists and cafe owners desperately trying to find Gwyneth.

But the 63-year-old school cleaner was actually on holiday in Warrington - coincidently the town where Betfred has its headquarters.

Gwyneth’s son and daughters, who live in North Wales, had seen an article appealing for a mystery blonde to come forward, which led them to text her to ask “Is this you mum?”

With four hours to go before the 5.30pm deadline on New Year’s Eve, she walked into the shop on High Street, Porthmadog to claim her huge payout.

Gwyneth and her husband David, a retired stonemason, have been playing the Irish Lotto for two years at Betfred and have won twice.

On each occasion, she pocketed £650.

The ecstatic winner said: “It’s third time lucky.

“I always bet with Betfred because Owen, who is the area manager, has become quite a friend.

“He’s always so helpful.

“We were in Warrington on holiday, I suppose, but baby-sitting really for my daughter Claire.

“Then I started getting all these texts from my son and daughter, who live in Bangor.

“I saw a newspaper article online and double-checked my numbers.

“I also found out about all the efforts going on in the town to find me and I appreciate what everyone has done.”

Betfred boss Fred Done contacted Gwyneth to congratulate her moments after she was presented with two bottles of champagne and flowers by Owen.

Fred said: “This is just what Betfred is all about - small wagers winning big.

“I hope Gwyneth and David have a brilliant New Year.”

Gwyneth added: “I just can’t believe it.

“Nothing like this ever happens to me.

“Our holidays are in Warrington but we won’t be moving house because we like it round here.”

So what is the first thing the grandmother will do with her significant winnings?

Gwyneth continued: “Probably have a nice cup of tea and have fish and chips for tea, that’s what we were planning to do so why change it?

“People who win a lot of money buy yachts I suppose, but for us, we’ll perhaps get a canoe.

“We certainly need a boat round here with all the flooding!

“Seriously, we’ll probably treat the children and when it all sinks in, decide what to do.

“I just cannot believe what has happened.

“It’s brilliant and I want to thank Betfred, who got in touch with the local press appealing successfully for me to come forward.”