A LUCKY lottery winner who thought he had won £10 was shocked to discover that he had actually scooped more than £50,000.

The mystery man was given the good news by staff at the Co-operative store in Ombersley Road, Worcester, who told him he needed to contact the National Lottery claims line after his prize money exceeded £50,000.

The ticket holder had gone in to the store on Monday believing that he had won the game’s lowest prize of £10.

And he thought staff were joking when the cashier checked the £1 ticket on the lottery machine and told him that his prize money was much bigger.

Staff said they did not know which Lotto draw he had entered, but if it was Saturday’s game the man could have won a four-way share of the £5.7 million jackpot or £57,319 for matching five numbers and the bonus ball.

Store manager Gary Heason said staff were thrilled that a customer had received such a big windfall.

“It was a bit of a shock first thing on a Monday morning,” he said.

“Our cashier told him he had to contact the National Lottery and he kept laughing saying ‘you’re messing around, just give me the £10’.

“She told him that she was serious, so he took the ticket and went away.”

A Camelot spokesman said he would not be able to confirm or deny any details.

However, news of the windfall has created a buzz around the supermarket and staff hope the luck will rub off on other customers who buy their tickets at the store.

“We are delighted that our lottery till has proven lucky for one of our customers and we wish them well,” said Mr Heason.

Winners can claim prize money up to £100 at retailers, between £100 and £500 at the retailer’s discretion, or at the Post Office and up to £50,000 from the Post Office after completing a prize claim form.

But payouts over £50,000 must be made in person at the winner’s home, an agreed location or a regional centre.

It is not the first time that National Lottery players in the city have won large amounts of money with a woman scooping £1m in the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle in January.

A man from Dines Green scooped £2.4m in February 2012 and in 2008, hostel chef Herbert Plant, of Blackpole, Worcester, won £2.6m.