National Lottery ticket price doubles to £2

Operator Camelot said the increase, which is the first since 1994, is part of a package of changes which include bigger prizes.

11:38 04 October 2013

In an effort to “re-energise Lotto” as sales have been steadily declining in recent years, Operator Camelot introduced changes, which include increasing the ticket prices to £2.

Camelot UK managing director Andy Duncan told the BBC's Today Programme: "The prizes haven't changed for 19 years and this is a way of actually giving players more opportunities to win more money.”

Prizes for matching three numbers will increase from £10 to £25 while average jackpots are predicted to rise to around £5m on Saturdays and £2.5m on Wednesday.

However, other prizes will be reduced. According to Camelot, the reward for matching five balls plus the bonus ball will average from £50,000 down from £100,000. The prize for matching five balls is expected to average £1,000 instead of £1,500.

To mark the launch of the new game, Camelot is holding two £10m jackpot draws, which will be held on October 5 and October 12. There will also be raffles where 100 ticket holders will win £20,000 on each occasion.