A SEARCH has been launched to find the lucky owner of a winning lottery ticket bought in Blackpool. The winning ticket – which is worth a cool £105,064 – was bought somewhere in the resort.

It matched five numbers – 9, 17, 26, 32, 36 and the bonus ball was 6 – in the National Lottery draw on August 8.

A National Lottery spokesman said: "We're desperate to find this ticket-holder and unite them with their winnings – this amazing prize could really make a difference to somebody's life. We're urging everyone to check their old tickets again or look anywhere a missing ticket could be hiding.

"Try checking in the pockets of clothing, in wallets, bags and down the back of the sofa – someone out there could literally be sitting on a fortune! We have the champagne on ice and our fingers crossed that the lucky winner comes forward to claim their win."

The mystery prize winner has 180 days to collect their prize, which is until 5.30pm on February 4 next year, or the money will be donated to good causes.

To remind Lottery players of what happened during the week the unclaimed ticket was a winner, The Black Eyed Peas were at number one in the UK singles chart with I Gotta Feeling, while Michael Jackson's The Essential topped the album chart.

Blackpool FC were getting their Coca Cola Football League Championship campaign under way with a trip to Queens Park Rangers.

The team came away from Loftus Road with a creditable 1-1 opening day draw.

Elsewhere, performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat were at Blackpool's Grand Theatre.

Anyone who believes they are the owner of the winning ticket should call the National Lottery Line on 0845 910 0000.

Source: Blackpool Gazette