Winning Lotto numbers with Thunderball as £12m jackpot up for grabs tonight

If you believe you’ve won a prize in the UK National Lottery, there are a few simple steps to follow before you can claim your winnings.

First, check your ticket carefully against the official results on the National Lottery website, app or through authorised retailers. If you played online or through the app, any winnings will usually be automatically credited to your account.

If you bought your ticket in-store, you can scan it at a retailer or through the National Lottery app to confirm whether you’ve won.

For smaller prizes, winners can normally claim their money at participating retailers. Larger prizes must be claimed directly through the National Lottery by calling the number listed on the back of the ticket or through the official website.

Players are advised to sign the back of their ticket and keep it safe, as the ticket itself is proof of ownership.

Winners usually have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their prize.