A LUCKY lottery gambler is nearly £600,000 better off after coming forward to claim their jackpot prize.
The winning Lotto ticket for the draw on Wednesday, October 14, was bought in the Hartlepool and Peterlee area.
Lottery operator Camelot issued an appeal for the winner to come forward and claim their prize after it went unclaimed for several weeks.
The mystery winner, who has scooped £595,593, has not yet been named.
A National Lottery spokesman said: "We're delighted that the winner of this prize has come forward and we hope that they will enjoy their win.
"It would have been awful if the ticket-holder had missed out on this substantial and life-changing amount of money.
"We would like to remind all National Lottery players to check their tickets every time they play."
Their lucky ticket holder picked all six winning numbers for the mid-week jackpot draw. They were 5, 11, 24, 32, 35 and 42.
If the winner had not claimed the prize by April 12 next year, the money would have gone into the lottery's Good Causes Fund.
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