The year will end with a bang for the lucky Lottery winner who has come forward to claim a £24.5 million jackpot in the biggest win of the year.
The top prize in Wednesday’s draw had to be won and, after no-one matched all six main numbers, the jackpot rolled down.
One ticket matched five numbers and the bonus ball to win £24,501,283 – the biggest Lotto prize of 2017.
The biggest lottery scoop of the year stands at £24,501,283 and has been claimed
Camelot, which operates the draw, said on Saturday that a claim has been staked for the huge prize.
Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at the National Lottery, said: “This is a fantastic prize from an amazing Lotto draw and we look forward to helping this ticket-holder settle into their new millionaire lifestyle.
“Overall it’s been an amazing 2017 for National Lottery players, with a record 358 millionaires made.
“I’ll be sure to have a glass of ice-cold Champagne with this ticket-holder to celebrate.”
Robert and Patricia Aldridge (pictured) are celebrating winning £1million on the Lucky Dip earlier this month
The money will be paid out at a ticket validation appointment, which must take place when banks are open.
The ticket-holder will then decide whether to go public with their win.
The winning numbers were 18 – 36 – 48 – 57 – 58 – 5 and the draw had 21 prizes.
Mrs Alridge, a care assistant, 55, said she would still do her 12-hour shift on Christmas Da
The second biggest Lotto prize this year was in June when a player took home £21 million and the third in March, when a ticket-holder won £19.1 million.
The year’s biggest prize was won by an anonymous EuroMillions player, who banked £87million in June/
In the same month another anonymous ticket-holder scooped the year’s largest Lotto win of £21.3million.
Christmas also came early for Patricia and Robert Aldridge who won £1million this December on a Lucky Dip.
The couple, who live in a £290,000 house in Slough, Berkshire, are keeping their feet firmly on the ground, saying the hefty sum ‘won’t change a thing.
The family celebrated Christmas properly on another day as Mrs Aldridge had to work on the day in a care home.
Earlier this year retired couple Tommy and Linda Parker won £5,014,254 in the Lottery draw.
The couple, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, won the huge sum in October and plan to build a house and go on a cruise together.
They also hope to help out their children and grandchildren with the money.
Tommy and Linda Parker from Port Seaton, East Lothian, have won a massive £5,014,254 on the October 18 2017 Lotto draw
Luck was a lady earlier this year as a mother-of-four cancelled her benefits and moved out of her council house after a £14.5million lottery win just months after splitting with her ex-partner – who did not get a penny.
Beverley Doran, 37, bought the lucky dip ticket after winning £50 on the draw and became a millionaire after matching six numbers on EuroMillions.