Lotto winner loses 6.9 mln pounds

A lottery winner lost a 6.9 million pound jackpot on Wednesday, the UK National Lottery said, after the mystery punter failed to claim the prize. The winning EuroMillions ticket -- with the numbers 22, 30, 34, 35, 44 and the Lucky Star numbers 4 and 5 -- was bought in Devon on Sept. 28 last year.

The 180-day deadline to claim the jackpot expired at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The money will now go to good causes. "It did not get claimed," A lottery spokeswoman said after the deadline.

"The prize and any interest accrued over the deadline will now go to good causes. We tried very hard to find the ticket-holder and it's a real shame that they have missed out, but there is still one winner - the nation." Lottery organisers urged people to check their coat pockets and down the back of the sofa for old tickets.