IT is being reported that two Bolton friends are to call in the police after Camelot has withheld their £4million scratch card prize.

Mark Goodram, 36, and Jon-Ross Watson, 31, won the jackpot on Easter Monday but Camelot the operators of National Lottery, are reported to have refused to pay out the £4 million winnings, and are investigating after the ticket was bought with a debit card.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, Mr Goodram said: "We have a winning ticket, where’s our cash?

"We’ll go to the police to report Camelot. They’re being unscrupulous. I know my rights."

Mr Watson remarked: “The Lottery catchline is 'It Could Be You'. Well, it should be us.

"Camelot bosses are messing us around, probably because they know we’ve had a lively past and been in prison. Well, that’s too bad.

He was referring to the pair’s criminal past.

They are both convicted criminals and Mr Goodram has 22 convictions for 45 offences.

He is understood to have been released on police licence from prison just weeks before the win — having been sentenced to eight months imprisonment for burglary in November.

At the time, the owner of a garage from which Mr Goodram stole more than £8,000, a passport, personal documents, bank books, a camcorder and a mobile phone, branded the justice system ‘useless’ due to the length of the sentence.

Adam Czutkowna, from J&A Motors said: “I am really disappointed that he did not get a longer sentence. He absolutely ransacked the garage premises and even stole the Bolton Hospice charity box, which we collect for. I think the justice system is useless.”

Mr Watson also has burglary convictions and has appeared in The Bolton News’ ‘Most Wanted’ lists a number of times, including in July 2017 for failing to appear in court regarding an offence of burglary.

Camelot, the operators of National Lottery, are reported to have refused to pay out the £4 million winnings, and are investigating after the ticket was bought with a debit card.

Mr Goodram and Mr Watson told The Sun newspaper that the card belonged to a friend called John — but could not provide his surname, address or phone number Mr Watson told the newspaper: “They need to pay us what we are owed or else.

"We’re partying like the millionaires we are."

A spokesman for Camelot said: “We are unable to confirm or deny any winner rumours due to winner anonymity.

“We are only able to disclose details of the claim of a winning ticket if, following the validation process, the ticket-holder opts for publicity and is happy to share their news.

“Security procedures form a key part of the process of validating a winning ticket to ensure we maintain the integrity of The National Lottery.

“Should there be any doubt surrounding the validity of a claim, we would undertake a thorough investigation to ensure we pay out the rightful ticketholder.”

Despite the controversy, Mr and Mr Watson who, are believed to have bought the £10 National Lottery scratch card on Easter Monday, from a Waitrose in Clapham, south London, during a trip down to the capital, are determined to celebrate.

They have been celebrating with champagne and cocktails, and Mr Goodram told The Sun that he would spend his potential winnings on luxury properties, while Mr Watson said: “I’m off on a Caribbean cruise, then to Las Vegas. But I need a passport first.

“Mark and me have been mates since we were little. This win’s unbelievable but we deserve the money fair and square. We were screaming in the street.”