London:
A woman in the UK has come forward as the potential winner of an unclaimed 33-million-pound lottery ticket bought from the shop of an Indian-origin man - but said her ticket has been destroyed in the washing machine.
"She said to me it had been through the wash," Natu Patel told the BBC.
"It was in a washed condition and so of course in a slightly poor state. But I think if [lottery firm] Camelot have the ability to be able to break it down and check it, they'll do what they have to do," the 64-year-old shopkeeper said.
Camelot confirmed the winning ticket was bought in Worcester. It has urged the woman to get in touch and send it in within 30 days.
The National Lottery operator said: "If anybody believes they have bought the ticket and think they may have lost it, or washed it in their jeans, or it's been stolen, they need to make a claim within 30 days."
The prize money is half the record Lotto jackpot win - shared with a couple from Scotland, who claimed their prize within days of the January 9 draw.
Camelot said it would not reveal the exact location where the ticket was purchased, but hoped that by naming the area could increase local interest and help find the winner.
Even though the prize total was shared, the sum is still the biggest win since the National Lottery was launched in November 1994.
