A LOTTERY-loving community has appealed to Camelot in a bid to help their newsagent win back the right to sell Lottery tickets.

Because VS Virks, in Northfield Street, Arboretum, was selling less than the minimum £1,400 Lottery tickets a week, Camelot put the shop on a 16-week programme to boost sales.

And while the Lottery operator considers the results of the programme, they shut VS Virks' ticket-dispensing machine down.

More than 700 customers signed a petition to convince Camelot they want their local Lottery outlet back.

Mr MS Virks and his wife Prabhjot have run shop for 22 years, and they are hopeful that their machine will be turned back on.

"We think we have been selling a lot of tickets," said Mrs Virks.

"We're the only shop around here so people are having to go into the city to get their Lottery tickets.

"We have a lot of elderly customers so how are they going to get their tickets if our machine remains switched off?"

Miranda Pugh, a spokeswoman for Camelot, said the average sales figure for retailers is around £3,000.

"Under Camelot's licence to run The National Lottery, it is committed to raising the maximum amount of money for good causes in a socially responsible way," she said.

"Camelot is therefore committed to working with retailers to enhance the performance of those retailers who are selling less than £1,400 per week of Lottery products."

The sales programme ended two weeks ago and now the Virks will to wait two weeks to find out if their bid has been successful.

If you have a story regarding the St Nicholas area, contact the ward reporter Sundeep Kumar on 01905 472255 or e-mail him on sk@thisisworcester.co.uk.