It could either be the most expensive wash in history – or the best ever ‘the dog ate my homework’ excuse.

A woman has claimed she has the missing £33m (43 million euro) lottery from the recent record draw - but says the bar code has come off in the wash.

The woman rushed into her local newsagent, Ambleside News, in Worcester, the UK yesterday, with the tattered piece of paper.

The ticket featured the winning combination of numbers - 26, 27, 46, 47, 52, 58 - but the date, bar code and serial number had been washed off, The Times reported.

Since I found it in my jeans pocket, my daughter and I have been drying it out with a hairdryer

The woman told the paper: "I've been a nervous wreck. I haven't slept all night. Since I found it in my jeans pocket, my daughter and I have been drying it out with a hairdryer. You can see the 2016 but not the date."

"This is one of only two shops I buy my tickets, and I remember coming in here the day before (the draw), because I had to buy something else."

Camelot, the National Lottery organisers, confirmed it was aware of the case.

Camelot officials descended on Worcester after it emerged that the ticket for the January 9 draw was bought in the city.

The 14-times rollover prize of £66m was split between two winners, with Scottish couple David and Carol Martin taking half of the cash.