Despite demand for tickets rising 1,200 per cent above usual levels, no British player matched the correct numbers. So many people tried to buy tickets in the final hours before the draw that the National Lottery website crashed.

However, a spokeswoman for lottery operator Camelot said last night’s draw had seen 1.4 million UK ticket-holders winning prizes totalling £15.6 million, from £179,829 to £7.10. The winning numbers were 9, 21, 30, 39, 50 with Lucky Star numbers 1 and 3.

The EuroMillions jackpot had rolled over 11 times since it was last won on November 11 — something it was forecast to do only once every 25 years. More than £50 million has been raised for good causes in Britain since the jackpot was last won.

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