A CLAIM has been received for a £1 million Lotto prize from a ticket bought in the Forest of Dean.

The search for a £1 million winning ticket - matching five main numbers and the Bonus Ball - began last month, with the National Lottery appealing to the community to help unite the lucky ticket holder with their prize.

And on Monday, (December 5), Lotto announced that a claim had finally been put in.

The process has now begun to validate the ticket, after which the holder can decide whether or not they wish to go public.

Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at The National Lottery, said: “What amazing news for this lucky ticket-holder who has claimed their prize. We will now focus on supporting the ticket-holder through the process.”

The numbers for the winning ticket were drawn more than six weeks ago on Saturday, October 22.

The appeal said the ticket holder had uintil April next year to claim their prize, but that those who thought they’d won but for whatever reason did not have a ticket only had until November 21.

Had it not been claimed, the winnings would’ve gone into National Lottery-funded projects across the UK.

Mr Carter said last month they were “desperate” to unite the mystery winner with the prize which could make “a huge difference to somebody’s life”.