LOTTERY players are being warned they could miss out on a whopping £500,000 ticket as it becomes worthless in just weeks.
One mystery winner in Redditch has just over a month left to claim the top prize and Brits have been told to “check tickets now”.
The pressure is on to find the owner of the ticket before it’s too late.
They matched all five main numbers and the Thunderball in the draw on December 8 last year.
Winning Thunderball numbers on that date were 2, 15, 31, 35, 37 and the Thunderball was 6.
The ticket-holder only has until June 5 to claim their prize.
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If no-one comes forward in time the prize money, plus all the interest it has generated, will go to help National Lottery-funded projects across the UK.
Andy Carter, a senior winners’ advisor at The National Lottery, said: “It’s been five months since the draw and we’ve not yet been contacted by the rightful ticket-holder to claim their prize, despite numerous appeals.
“However, while there is still time there is still hope – we’ve received valid claims on major National Lottery unclaimed prizes right up to the very last minute before – but time is marching on.
“Our appeal is simple: take five minutes out of your day to dig out and check your Thunderball tickets.
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“Those five minutes could be the most profitable five minutes of your life! We are ready and waiting for that life-changing phone call to come in to us here at The National Lottery.
“Players can check their tickets online by downloading the National Lottery app or at national-lottery.co.uk. Players can also check tickets in retail.
“Playing online via the app or website means that your ticket is checked, and you get an email notification if you win a prize. You can also scan your retail tickets on the National Lottery app to check if you’re a winner.”
By playing any National Lottery game, players generate £30m each week for National Lottery-funded projects.
This money helps fund projects across the nation, with over 685,000 grants – supporting projects both big and small – having been made across the UK to date.
With all National Lottery draws, players have 180 days from the day of the draw to claim their prize.
How to buy a National Lottery ticket
You can buy a lottery ticket both in stores and online if you are 18 or over.
Tesco, B&M, post offices and many more venues have the tickets available – usually they cost only £2.00.
Once you have your ticket you can tune in to watch the National Lottery Live on BBC One to see if the numbers on your slip are called.
If you think you might be a winner then head to the National Lottery website to claim the money.