A LIFE-CHANGING £74,000 lottery ticket bought in Redbridge will be rendered worthless unless someone claims it within the next few weeks.

Staff at Camelot, which runs the prize draw, have been "desperately" searching for the owner of the valuable slip since March, but time is now running out before the cash will be handed over to charity instead.

The golden ticket will officially expire at 5.30pm on Thursday September 24, but lottery bosses are still hoping they can track down the winner.

It was bought on Saturday March 28, and the winning numbers were 2, 17, 19, 28, 31 and 47, with the bonus ball coming in as number 14.

A National Lottery spokeswoman said: “We’re desperate to find this mystery 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."

The exact location of where it was bought has not been revealed.

To jog Lotto players’ memories, on Saturday 28 March 2009, England played Slovakia in an International friendly at Wembley Stadium, which they went on to win 4-0, in preparation for their World Cup Qualifier with the Ukraine the following Wednesday.

If no-one comes forward with the winning ticket before the prize claim deadline, then the £74,827 prize money, plus all the interest it has generated, will go to various good causes – adding to the £22 billion already raised through sales of lottery tickets since The National Lottery launched in November 1994.

Anyone who believes they have the winning ticket for any of the National Lottery draws should call the National Lottery Line on 0845 910 0000.

For further information call 0845 912 5000 or visit www.national-lottery.co.uk.