Letter: Just the ticket

From Mr Peter Ness and

Mr Michael Hunt

Sir: We write with regard to the recent public worries concerning the possible use of a syndicate to buy all 14 million possible combinations of numbers for the National Lottery.

Our organisation, Analysis and Research into Statistical Economics, has calculated that it would require 555 persons in 555 different lottery outlets, each working 10 hours a day for seven days, to enter all possible combinations.Where is a syndicate likely to find 555 persons who are free for this amount of time, unless they are prepared to lose their jobs and possibly their families?

We conclude that we may all sleep safe in the knowledge that we all have as much chance as each other of winning the lottery - unless we do not buy a ticket.

Yours faithfully,

Peter Ness

Michael Hunt

Edinburgh

5 January