Retailers in Sittingbourne and Sheerness have seen a surge in national lottery ticket sales as punters chase a potential prize of nearly £60 million.

The record-breaking Lotto draw has gone unclaimed as a result of 13 successive rollovers, meaning the cash must be shared out at lower odds in Saturday’s draw if it is not won outright.

Martins Newsagents in Minster has been inundated with customers snapping up tickets.

“Normally we sell about 300 tickets but this week we’ve seen it go up to 800,” said a spokesman.

“People seemed to be buying double what they usually get and others decided to do it after saying they haven’t played in years.

“No one seemed to be interested in the Euromillions, but that because this has been so big, there will definitely be a massive rush before Saturday.”

It was similar story for Macks in Sittingbourne’s Northwood Drive where staff said people were walking out with fists full with tickets.

“People who tend to buy a couple are now buying a few more in the run up to the draw,” said cashier Michelle Crichton.

“Normally we sell about 300 tickets but this week we’ve seen it go up to 800” - a spokesman for Martins Newsagents in Minster

“We always seem to have a strong lotto trade here but lately we’ve seen more and more people come in hoping to get the jackpot.”

BA Fitch Newsagents, on Sheerness High Street, have also experienced gold rush, selling almost 90 tickets in a single day.

A spokesman said: “Quite a few customers are coming in and searching the bottom of their purse for change just to get one.

“We’ve definitely seen things improve but it seems to be more individuals making a last minute decision.”

Murston Stores in Sittingbourne has also seen an increase in lottery customers.

Owner Santish Patel said: “Whenever we have one of these rollovers there is always an increase in ticket sales, but that probably won’t happen until later.

“We always sell more tickets as we get closer to the draw.”

Camelot said it sold about 200 tickets per second in the hour before ticket sales closed on Wednesday and it anticipates a similar figure this weekend.

Saturday’s jackpot is the result of 13 consecutive rollovers and follows the number of balls in the draw increasing from 49 to 59 in October.

This reduced the odds of a player getting six numbers from about one in 14m to one in 45m, mathematicians say.

Camelot consumer and retail director, Sally Cowdry said: “Millionaire making is what we do week in week out, with a massive 341 made last year, and this is a fantastic way to start 2016.

“A life-changing sum of money has to be won, one way or another we will see massive or multiple millionaires made by Lotto.

“These are the draws players love, so don’t delay getting a ticket as it promises to be one of the most popular draws ever.”

If no-one matches six numbers on Saturday, the next tier of winners will share the Lotto prize.