It is claimed six British men and women were fined £55 and questioned for several hours after police raided the Pyramid Bar in the popular tourist destination of Altinkum in Turkey. The Britons were taking part in a charity fund-raising night.  Bingo is against the law in Turkey as it is seen as an unregulated form of gambling. This raid was the second one in Altinkum in the past 15 months. In the first one, seven British tourists were fined for taking part in the game.

The most recent incident had been arranged by friends of Ruby Myerscough, 60, who moved to the resort from Burnley. There had been complaints from local residents that the bar was allowing gambling to take place on its premises. Apparently, the Daily Mail – a UK newspaper - was told how the arrests have angered the foreign regulars as the bingo was part of a charity night to raise money towards the medical expenses of a British woman recovering from cancer.

The bar will also suffer a depletion of funds as police have ordered that it be closed down for several days.
Pauline Ellington, who has lived in Altinkum for three years, was quoted as saying: "I hope I don't get a criminal record for playing bingo.

"We have been hauled out of there as if we are common criminals. It is disgusting as the night was for a good cause."