£4m Lotto claim with 35 minutes left

A MYSTERY Lotto ticketholder came forward to claim a £4m prize - minutes before the deadline. But the would-be millionaire has still not produced the winning ticket.

The person contacted Lottery operator Camelot at 4.55pm - 35 minutes before the 5.30pm deadline.

It followed a 180-day search for the person who bought the winning ticket in Richmond-upon-Thames before the New Year's Day draw.

The claimant must now get the ticket validated within seven days. The winning numbers were 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 40.

If the ticket-holder is confirmed as the winner, he or she will scoop the £3,987,470 prize plus about £94,000 in interest. Otherwise, the money will go to the Good Causes fund.

A Camelot spokeswoman said it was unusual for a ticketholder to come forward at such a late stage.

'Obviously we are always hopeful that people will come forward.'

Unclaimed National Lottery prize money rose to a record £100m last year.

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