A mystery Essex person has started the new millennium £5 million richer.

National Lottery company Camelot made a plea through the press after the cash from the November 20 game had been left unclaimed for nearly seven weeks.

The company announced the winner, who is thought to have bought the lucky ticket in county, had finally stepped forward.

A Camelot spokesman said: "We normally do not make public if money has not been claimed.

"But this was quite a large sum and as people were busy with the Christmas festivities and all the millennium excitement, we thought it was only fair to remind the potential winner through the media that their money was waiting for them."

Camelot admitted the £5 million winner had bought their ticket in Essex, but no other information was given as the new multi-millionaire had signed a no-publicity clause.

The spokesman said: "We can now confirm that the winner stepped forward over the new year holiday period."

If the winner had not stepped forward within 180 days of the initial game - May 18 - then under Camelot's rules the entire £5 million would have gone to good causes across the country.

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