THE clock is ticking on a mystery lottery winner in Somerset who has just days left to claim a top Thunderball top prize of £500,000

The last-ditch search is still on to find the owner of the winning ticket from the draw on July 13 last year – bought in South Somerset – who matched all five main numbers - 10, 14, 16, 18, 20 and the Thunderball 9.

The lucky ticket-holder only has until next Thursday next week (January 9) to make their claim.

National Lottery players are being urged to check and double-check their tickets one last time for the chance to claim the life-changing prize.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at The National Lottery, said: "Time really is running out for the winner of this prize, but we are still hopeful that someone will come forward at the very last minute to claim the money.

"We’re urging everyone to check their old tickets one final time or look anywhere a missing Thunderball ticket could be hiding.

"This life-changing prize could really help to make dreams become a reality for someone out there and what a way to start 2020 it would be."

If no-one comes forward with the winning ticket before the prize claim deadline, then the prize money, plus all the interest it has generated, will go to help National Lottery-funded projects across the UK.