It was a close call for a Wallsend mother who nearly threw out her $10,000 winning Instant Scratch-Its after her adult children incorrectly scratched the ticket.

The top prize winning $1 Bamboo Bucks Instant Scratch-Its ticket was purchased at NewsXpress Wallsend, Shop 26A, Stockland Wallsend Shopping Centre, Cnr Cowper Street & Kokera Street, Wallsend.

Speaking with us this morning, the gleeful woman said she was stunned by the windfall.

“It’s pretty exciting and quite a funny story, too,” she cheered.

“I didn’t realise at first that I’d won $10,000 as my adult kids scratched the ticket, but they did it wrong!

“I’d nearly thrown it in the bin because I thought it was a lemon.

“Thankfully, I looked over it a couple of times and realised it was a winner!

“I didn’t believe my eyes when I saw I’d won $10,000. It’s so surreal.

“I kept looking at it multiple times – a few double takes here and there.”

When asked how she planned to enjoy her instant win, the Newcastle mum was still too shellshocked to make any concrete plans.

“I haven’t got a clue what I’ll spend the prize on, but I know it will go to good use!” she shared.

“We might plan to celebrate the win as a family soon!”

The NewsXpress Wallsend team said they were ecstatic to have sold a top prize winning Instant Scratch-Its ticket and wished their local winner all the best with her prize.