Euromillions £113m cash frenzy

Wannabe millionaires dreaming of hitting the EuroMillions jackpot were queueing today to get their hands on tickets for tonight's draw.

A possible jackpot of £113m is up for grabs for the winning ticket, which would be a British record if scooped by a single winner. Newsagents, supermarkets and the official website selling the £2 tickets were experiencing brisk business today, with the peak period predicted to be between 5 and 6pm as people made their way home from work.

Tano Singh, owner of Bargain Booze in Hill Top, West Bromwich, said they were expecting to take £1,500 in EuroMillions ticket sales alone today and were preparing for a rush this afternoon.

"This morning we had someone who spent £74 on tickets," he said.

"People are spending £50 or £60 at a time, it's madness. It will be really busy today, between about 4 and 7pm will be the busiest time.

"We are expecting sales of at least £1,500 just on the lottery, we've done £1,000 already on the EuroMillions in the past week."

Jim Brice, manager of Morrisons in Wednesbury, said they had to put a dedicated member of staff on just to deal with ticket sales today. Retired toolmaker Ed Hodgkinson, aged 75, from Hill Top, was among those trying his luck today.

He said he played the lottery every week and had won small amounts before but was confident about scooping the big jackpot tonight and would share it with his wife Ivy, their two children, two grandchildren and friends.

"I'm sure I'll get a big win one time," he said.

"I've got a couple of grandkids and they wouldn't have to go to work any more and I've got some great friends who I would look after as well.

"I applaud anybody that wins that cash, I think it is great. Most people would spread it about a bit and look after people."

The Midlands has had its share of lottery millionaires in recent years, with nearly £850 million being shared out in the region since 1994, creating 176 new millionaires.

The biggest winners were trucker Tom Naylor and wife Rita from Darlaston who netted a then-British record of £15.5m in Lotto Extra in 2001.

Meanwhile, Camelot was today searching for a mystery Euro Millions lottery winner who bought a ticket in Cannock Chase but has still not claimed the £119,777.50 prize.

The ticket was purchased somewhere in the Cannock Chase area in August but so far no-one has claimed the winning prize.

The 180-day deadline runs out at 5.30pm on February 24 and if the money isn't claimed then it will go to good causes.

The ticket matched the five main numbers on Friday, August 28. They were 8, 36, 37, 41, 49 and the Lucky Stars 5 and 7.