LOTTERY outlets across Bolton are expecting record sales on Saturday as lottery madness hits the nation for the second time in a month.

Estimates suggest this week's rollover jackpot could exceed the £42.5 million shared by three winners on January 6.

During the last double rollover, nearly 90 per cent of the adult population played - more than voted in the last General Election!

And the same number - nearly 40 million - are expected to play this week.

In Bolton the rush for tickets is expected to increase as the big day approaches. A spokesman for the Safeway store in Bury Road, Breightmet, said: "We are seeing a slight increase in sales at the moment but we anticipate the majority of our sales coming on Friday and Saturday when the surge will be enormous."

Jim Crompton deputy manager of the Late Shop in Wigan Road, said: "Basically people round here leave getting their tickets until the last minute. It will be a mad house here on Saturday."

And it's the same story at the Co-op in Market Street, Westhoughton.

A spokesman said: "It will be mad from 7am onwards on Saturday. You'd think people would remember what it was like last time, and avoid it, but they don't."

Amanda Hardy from Cellar 5 in Chorley New Road, Horwich, said sales at the moment are quiet. But she added: "The rush should start today and build up as Saturday approaches. Last time we had the rollover the amount of trade we had was phenomenal - I would say sales tripled. We got more people in and our regular customers were having extra goes."

Christine McIntosh from the Late Shop in Newbrook Road, Over Hulton, said: "Last time there was a rollover there was a queue half way round the shop.

"We had lots more customers in and some were putting on several hundred pounds. "At the moment sales are steady but there will no doubt be a rush on Saturday."

She added: "It seems to be a ritual for many people to leave buying their tickets until the last minute.

"We get the same customers in here two or three times a week but they still leave buying their lottery tickets until Saturday afternoon or even that night. I can't understand it myself." The trend to buy lottery tickets at the last minute seems to be a nationwide phenomena and players are being urged to buy their tickets early as Lottery Fever is expected to reach an all time high towards the end of the week.

Communications director David Rigg said: "Our strong advice to players is to buy their tickets early as Lottery fever is sure to return with this second double rollover.

"Given the number of tickets expected to be bought this week, we would estimate that eight or nine people would share the jackpot, however some number combinations prove more popular than others." This week an estimated £76 million will be paid out in prizes and over £30 million will be raised for the good causes.

The draw will be made live on BBC 1 just after 8pm by the presenter of Supermarket Sweep Dale Winton and opera singer Lesley Garrett.

There are still four match five plus the bonus number National Lottery prizes yet to be claimed.

The largest is for £146,245 and all have to be claimed before the 180 day deadline.

In total a staggering £20 million in prize money remains unclaimed.

In Oldham, £94,239 needs to be claimed by a lucky ticket holder before February 6.

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