SOMEONE, somewhere is about to become a member of a very exclusive club - and has absolutely no idea of their good fortune.

His or her life is about to be utterly transformed - but only if they still have a National Lottery ticket, which was bought less than a month ago.

One of the biggest jackpots ever to go unclaimed - almost £8m - is waiting to be collected by someone who bought their ticket in North Yorkshire.

The winning ticket was for the May 19 draw and matched all six numbers - 17, 19, 20, 32, 36 and 48.

Lottery-players across the county are being urged to dig out their old tickets to check and double-check to see if their dreams have come true.

A total of £7,923,399 is waiting for the winner in Camelot's coffers - and if it is not claimed by 5.30pm, on November 15, his or her hopes of a life of luxury will be dashed.

"We're desperate to find this mystery ticket-holder and make them a multi-millionaire - this truly amazing prize could literally change lives overnight," said a lottery spokesman yesterday.

"We're urging everyone to check their old tickets again or look anywhere a missing ticket could be hiding.

"Try checking in the pockets of clothing, in wallets, bags and down the back of the sofa - someone out there could literally be sitting on a fortune. We have the champagne on ice and our fingers crossed that the lucky winner comes forward to claim their win."

The winner could be a North Yorkshire resident, who simply forgot to check their ticket - or someone who was in the county at the time visiting friends or one of the tourist attractions.

On the day of the draw, the FA Cup final took place at the new Wembley Stadium between Manchester United and Chelsea.

McFly were topping the charts and audiences at the Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, were enjoying a performance of The Truman Capote Talk Show.

Last summer, a lottery-player in Newcastle almost missed out on a £5.5m jackpot after getting all six numbers in the June 17 draw - but claimed the cash after a newspaper appeal.

In April, a South Tyneside winner collected £92,000 for choosing five numbers and the bonus ball in a March draw and not initially checking the ticket.

If no-one comes forward by the deadline, the cash - and the interest - will go to the Lottery's good causes.