Only Hours to Claim $100M Lotto
LONDON - Britons were madly checking their purses, pocketbooks and glove compartments today as the clock ticked down on an unclaimed lottery ticket worth a $102 million.
The jackpot-winning EuroMillion ticket was drawn on June 8. It is only valid for 180 days, which means the owner has until 6 p.m. ET today to claim it.
Britain's National Lottery has revealed that the ticket was bought in the sleepy town of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, just north of London.
Shila Sachania, a convenience store owner in Stevenage who sells lotto tickets says she has been inundated with customers hoping they have the seven lucky numbers. " Everyone," she says, " is searching high and low, in their vans, their cars, their houses , upstairs, downstairs, everywhere they could possibly have put a lottery ticket."
It is the fifth-biggest jackpot in British history and it is the biggest unclaimed lottery prize ever in this country. According to the rules the proceeds, including $1 million in interest, will now go to the National Lottery Good Causes scheme, a charity that distributes unclaimed money to health, education, sports and arts organizations.
Just in case you are wondering, the winning numbers are 5, 11, 22, 34 and 40, and the Lucky Star numbers are 9 and 11. Although by the time you read this it may be too late.
