Elizabeth Wilson was shocked to win only £10 (US$16.70) in the UK National Lottery.

UK lottery winners have been left furious after realising that those who matched four numbers actually received a smaller prize than those who matched three.

Players felt cheated after discovering that if they got four numbers correct earlier this week they were awarded with £15, whereas people who guessed three numbers correctly got £25, reported Metro.

Grandmother Elizabeth Wilson, 74, beat the 1000-to-one odds to guess four numbers, however she was dismayed to find out that she would get £10 US$16.70) less than those who didn't guess as well as her.

The strange winnings came about because far more people than normal matched three numbers.

However matching three number means an automatic £25 win, so the pot of money for the people who matched four numbers had to be reduced.

The National Lottery website shows that 219,273 people matched three numbers.

This was little consolation for some, such as 63-year-old Lyn Blakemore, who feel like she had been cheated.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the ex-chiropodist said: "I don't think it’s right. It’s not worth playing."

"Me and my husband Arthur wanted to go to France this weekend, but now we're off to Skegness."

Others have complained that this highlights flaws in the National Lottery’s jackpot system.

Jim Naven, 70, from Birmingham said: "They are building up one prize to wreck another. They will lose customers over it."

Source: Metro