Unlucky for some

An unlucky couple recently missed out on a massive lottery win... because the lottery machine was not working properly.

Back in December an elderly couple missed out on a much needed Christmas win of £2,000 after five of their six numbers came up.

The couple, who picked their numbers using their birth dates and have used the same numbers for over 14 years, would have picked up their biggest ever win. But a glitch on the computer meant that they and thousands of other players couldn’t buy a ticket.

Jack, 68, told how he and May, 66, of Craigneuk, Lanarkshire, watched in agony as the draw was made. He said:

We didn't have a ticket on for the first time ever and I joked it would be typical if we won big money.

The couple stared in disbelief as the draw was made.

The weekend draw descended into chaos after a computer crash. It is estimated to have cost the single jackpot winner almost £1million.

On Christmas Eve, Camelot estimated Saturday's jackpot at £4.2million. But it was revised to around £3.4 million following the dip in sales caused by the problems.They started on Saturday morning when newsagents discovered some tickets would not process.

The public were left fuming at being unable to buy a ticket and tempers frayed in shops nationwide leading to the host, Carole Martin, making a public apology to the nation on BBC 1.