Mum-of-one Niki Robinson, 23, from Beaconsfield Terrace, says she didn't know the first thing about cards until earlier this year when her local pub - the Parker's Arms - started hosting a weekly poker competition.

Now, 12 weeks later, the single mum has beaten hundreds of other competitors on route to a place at the finals of the Poker In the Pub Championships, which are being held in the gambling capital of the world.

The former St Michael's pupil says she is 'gobsmacked' about how she got there because she didn't even know how to play.

"I am absolutely stunned about the whole thing," she said. "I only did it because I was bored.

"I was in the pub one night and they were having this poker tournament. It was free to enter so I thought I'd give it a go.

"I didn't even know how to play but I ended up getting though to the regional finals in Liverpool. Then I managed to get though to the national finals.

"It was just one of those crazy things because I still had to look at one of those cards that tell you what each hand means.

"The next thing I'd won a trip to Las Vegas. I'm so excited because a lot of these other players were really good - I always thought I was rubbish at bluffing."

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