Missing Lottery Winner Claims £33m Jackpot

Camelot says it has received a valid claim for the £33m lottery jackpot, ending an almost three-week search for the lucky winner.

The National Lottery operator said it was "pleased to announce" that the winning ticket, worth a massive £33,035,323, has been found.

It said the lucky winner had decided to remain anonymous.

All that is known is that they bought the ticket for the 9 January draw in the Worcester area.

A National Lottery spokesperson said: "We're delighted that the winner of this amazing prize has now come forward and we hope that they will enjoy their win.

"It would have been awful if the ticket-holder had missed out on this substantial and life-changing amount of money."

Hundreds of people claiming to have the winning ticket have come forward over the last few weeks, including Susanne Hinte, from Warndon, Worcester, who said she had accidently put the ticket through the washing machine.

It has since emerged that Ms Hinte is facing an unrelated criminal trial for theft.

The prize is the second half of a record £66m jackpot.

David and Carol Martin, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, came forward to claim their £33m share shortly after the draw.

The prizes dwarf the previous record win of £22,590,829 - collected by Paul Maddison and Mark Gardiner from Hastings, East Sussex in 1995.