National Lottery responds as 71-year-old EuroMillions winner living ‘out of food banks’ after not being paid prize

The National Lottery has been forced to apologise after a delay to a pensioner's EuroMillions payout left him in a difficult financial position.

We all dream of bagging ourselves some extra cash on the lottery and for Pete Daly from the Wirral, that dream came true back in July when his numbers came up on a EuroMillions draw.

His win earned him a decent £582.20 - not a bad return on a £2.50 ticket.

When Pete called up to claim his cash, he was told it would take 10 days for the money to arrive in his bank account. But, more than a month later, he is yet to see his winnings.

Pete Daly has been left living 'on food banks' after his EuroMillions payout was delayed by more than a month (Pete Daly)

The National Lottery has since apologised for the delay and provided a likely reason why it's taken so long for the 71-year-old to be paid.

"We’re very sorry to hear the concerns raised and colleagues have now called Mr Daly with an update. We successfully process hundreds – sometimes thousands – of prize claims every week," a spokesperson for lottery operator Allwyn said.

"This is following the introduction of a revised claims process that we had to bring in earlier this year following the Post Office's decision to no longer pay National Lottery retail prizes between £500.01 and £50,000.

"Unfortunately, a small number of these claims are delayed for various reasons.

"However, we're continuing to work on new ways to help further improve the claims process and would like to reassure our winners that they will definitely receive their prize."

But, the delay to Pete's winnings has left him in a difficult position.

The National Lottery has since apologised for the delay to Mr Daly's payout and promises he will receive it (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: "I won £582.20 and every time I ring them up I get a different story.

"I have been paying for the lottery for 10 years, that is £10 a week, £1,040 every year for 30 years and I finally make £500 and they won’t give me it."

He claims that after paying for his car insurance renewal, he has been left without any money to live on.

"I can’t afford anything because I paid for the car insurance thinking I'd get this money within 10 days."

Pete is now relying on food banks and cannot afford to get a haircut or the new shoes he needs until he receives the overdue winnings.

"I need this money, I'm struggling, money is the difference to being able to live, it sorts me to be able to live, not living well, but living."