NUMBER one... Number one... Rhymes with fun.

At least according to the South West's best bingo caller, who has won through to the national finals with his Wilts/Dorset lilt.

That's because back in 2001, when Jason Chandler first began working for Gala Bingo in Tower Park, he was washing dishes in the kitchen, until someone offered him a microphone and a bag of numbers.

For Jason there was no looking back, quickly graduating to calling the linked bingo across 20 other centres in the South West.

"I was shocked that I won - I was up against six other contestants.

"The final is in July against 10 other regional winners.

"To be a caller you have to have lots of personality and a clear voice."

Jason, 30, who lives in Turlin Moor, won a trophy, £100 and an audition to become Channel 4's Gala TV station caller.

To become a qualified bingo caller he had to attend a two-day course in Coventry.

Unfortunately for purists, the old rhyming slang has been usurped by a much more sober approach.

Jason explained: "We are not allowed to say clickety click' and things like that now.

"You have to say one and two, 12, which takes some of the fun out of it."

Not that this has deterred younger bingo-goers: "There is a bit of a generational war in bingo, but it makes it more fun.

"It will change when the smoking ban comes in - we could lose customers."