For the past four weeks, there have been no winners of the Banbury United Community Lottery, sponsored by John Nicholls Building & Plumbing Merchants, resulting in a bulging prize fund of an estimated £3,600 minimum.

It is the lottery’s second largest ever prize, the previous record being £4,500 three years ago. This Friday’s draw, to be held at 3pm at The White Horse on North Bar Street (spectators welcome), will be the fifth draw since the lottery was last won on September 20th when the winnings were shared among five people.

“You have to be in it to win it – and so we are urging those who keep meaning to enter or who enter every now and again, to make this the week they buy a ticket,” said Clive Wright, Banbury United Community Lottery team member and chief lottery ticket salesman!”

The lottery numbers are drawn every Friday at 3pm and entries may be made up to 10am on Friday. It’s £1 to enter with your three chosen numbers between 1 and 20. If there are no winners, the prize pot rolls over to the next week. Tickets are available to purchase from a number of local establishments (click here for the list) including the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium on a match day and the lottery stand at the Castle Quay shopping centre.

People may also set up standing orders so their entry is never forgotten – click here to access the form (note, a standing order would not be set up in enough time for this week’s draw), or pay via bank transfer and message the team via Messenger on its Facebook page.

The correct guess can win up to 50% of the Banbury United Community Club Lottery Fund after expenses (this is the estimated £3,600 figure) and a 10% donation to the “Keep Horton General” official campaign. All remaining proceeds go to Banbury United Community Football Club.