SOMEWHERE in Yorkshire, dozy gamblers are wandering about with a potential fortune in a pocket or purse. Or maybe their winning Lottery tickets are behind the clock on the fireplace, or about to undergo the final spin cycle.

More diligent Lottery players cannot understand the point of buying a ticket and not checking the numbers.

The two Yorkshire culprits should be tracked down and banned from any further involvement in the game. That would slash the odds of winning the jackpot to a more reasonable 13,999,998-1.

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, May 18, 2004