National Lottery jackpot winner risks missing out on £12milllion prize

The winning ticket was purchased in a retailer for the Lotto Must Be Won draw, and matched all six numbers - 08, 10, 26, 30, 35 and 42.

Now anyone who had bought a ticket in the area is encouraged to check their tickets, with the lucky ticket-holder having until December 3 of this year to claim their prize.

Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: "This is an incredible win for one lucky Lotto ticketholder. Someone out there is a multi-millionaire, and they have no idea that they are sitting on this life-changing sum of money.

"We are urging Lotto players to check their tickets to see if they are our would-be winner."

"Were you in and around Rhondda Cynon Taf in the weeks leading up to the Lotto draw on 6 June?

"Perhaps our winner isn't even from the area and played Lotto while visiting over the heatwave, or maybe you were just passing through?

PICTURED: National Lottery tickets on sale in Wales

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"Think back to if this could be you, as we want nothing more than to unite the winner with their prize money!"

Mr Carter noted how the sum of money had improved the lives of previous winners, adding there was "twelve million reasons to check your tickets".

The hunt for a new winner comes just as the National Lottery is increasing the number of winners each year.

Every £2 lotto winner now gives two chances to win, increasing the number of winners from around 140 a year to an expected 345.

The National Lottery winner has until December 3 of this year to claim the prize

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Winning player odds will be improved from 1 in 9.3 too 1 in 4.9.

The newly-made multi-millionaire has 180 days to claim the prize, but those who are not in possession of a ticket but believe they may have a genuine claim to the winning ticket can make a claim in writing to Allwyn within 30 days of the draw.

National Lottery players has generated around £33million for National Lottery projects.

This includes a number of arts and sport community projects throughout Britain.

The news follows a mystery Set for Life winner from Croydon, south London, finally claiming their prize - worth £10,000 a month.

The ticket, drawn on April 2, is still to go through a full validation process, but if successful would be appointed a winner's adviser.

And last month, another Set for Life winner from Wolverhampton claimed his prize after a draw on April 27.

"We'll now support the ticket-holder through the process so they can begin to enjoy their life-changing win as soon as possible," Mr Carter said.