Hackney winner claims top Thunderball prize of £500,000

Someone in Hackney is £500,000 better off after bagging the top Thunderball prize last month – but they didn’t realise for weeks.

The big-money prize had gone unclaimed for nearly a month since it was scooped on September 15.

But the lucky winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has now come forward to cash in their National Lottery ticket.

Unless prize winners opt to take full publicity and sign an agreement to that effect, no further information can be released about them.

Andy Carter, of The National Lottery said: “It would have been awful if the ticket-holder had missed out on this substantial and life-changing amount of money.

“We’re delighted that the winner of this amazing prize has now come forward and we hope that they will enjoy their win. We would like to remind all National Lottery players to check their tickets every time they play.”

In 2012 someone in Hackney won £1million on the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle – but didn’t claim the ticket.