Lotto players are now being urged to check and double-check their tickets in case they won the £850,513 jackpot.

A lottery spokesman refused to reveal exactly where in 1066 Country the winning ticket was bought for the mid-week draw on Wednesday, November 25, but have narrowed the area to within Hastings or Bexhill.

But the player who matched the six winning numbers - 3, 6, 11, 17, 23 and 29 - has still not come forward to claim their money some three weeks later.

The hunt is now on for Hastings's very own golden ticket and if nobody claims the prize by May next year the cash will be donated to charity.

A National Lottery spokesperson said: "We are desperate to find this mystery ticket-holder and unite them with their winnings – this amazing jackpot prize could really make a huge difference to somebody's life.

"We are 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."

On November 25 The X Factor Finalists were top of the singles chart with their cover of You Are Not Alone, the British sailors seized by Iran were in the news and that night Chelsea won at Porto and Manchester United suffered a shock home defeat to Beskitas in the UEFA Champions League.

Locally it was the week East Sussex County Council issued closure notices for The Grove, Filsham Valley and Hillcrest schools, storms battered the town and Eastenders star Leslie Grantham, aka Dirty Den, appeared alongside Father Christmas at the launch of the new Priory Meadow ice rink.

Anyone who believes they have the winning ticket should call the National Lottery Line on 0845 9100000.

What would you spend the money on? Leave your comments below.