Mr Sid's usual six numbers came up in the draw but he had spent his money on buying a card for his wife Zohra, 36.

His family watched television and cheered when they saw the numbers come up but then Mr Sid had to confess that the £1 had gone elsewhere, according to The Sun newspaper.

Mr Sid, 47, a radio presenter, said: "I'm not sure my kids will ever forgive me."

"Everyone was happy"

His numbers, 8, 13, 14, 17, 20 and 28, would have won him more than £1.8m if he joined the six winners who shared Saturday's £13m rollover jackpot.

"Everyone was cheering and so happy. For a second I was too, then I remembered. It was terrible when I told them."

Mr Sid, of Orpington, Kent, had planned to buy his ticket as usual on his way home from work at the BBC's World Service.

The father-of-three told the newspaper: "I only had £2.50. I wanted a card and a Lottery ticket but Valentine's Day is very important to my wife.

"I still love him"

"The card I chose cost exactly £2.50. When I got home my wife had prepared a lovely romantic meal with candles and a red rose on a table. I forgot about the ticket until I saw the numbers come up on the screen.

"I thought somehow they'd put them on TV as a joke. It was unreal. It still hasn't sunk in."

Zohra, 37, said: "It was the most expensive Valentine card in the world. But it was a beautiful gesture and I still love him."

Mr Sid plans to continue playing but with different numbers.

A Camelot spokeswoman said: "At the end of the day, money can't buy you love."