A LUCKY pensioner has been revealed as the mystery winner of a £10,000 lottery fortune.

Benjamin Clarke, 70, has come forward after an appeal to find out who bought an unclaimed winning Health Lottery ticket in Northwich.

He plays the Health Lottery with his partner and was shocked at how much they had won.

They matched four balls and the bonus ball in the New Year’s Day draw but have only just come forward following an appeal by the Health Lottery and a piece in last week’s Guardian.

“Our reaction was utter surprise and shock at the amount we had won,” Benjamin said.

The ticket had been bought at the Bargain Booze shop, in Middlewich Road, and the winner had 180 days from the date of purchase to claim their prize.

Benjamin and his partner said they would be thinking carefully about what to do with their unexpected windfall.

“Apart from sharing some of our win with our families we are not rushing to spend it at the moment.

“We are going to wait a while to decide exactly what we want, maybe an extra holiday or maybe a new kitchen.”

Dominic Mansour, chief executive of the Health Lottery, said: “We are really pleased that the mystery winner has come forward, and this proves that it was well worth the search.”

To date the Health Lottery has helped to raise more than £44million for good causes and more than £940,000 in Cheshire through the Community Interest Company HealthReward.