Retailers who lost business and had to deal with angry customers after Camelot terminals shut down just hours before a draw will not be offered compensation.

A network issue affected terminals for four hours on Saturday December 27.

Sarah Tarrant, who runs The Corner Shop on Holdenhurst Road in Bournemouth, Dorset, said: "Saturday is our busiest day for the National Lottery and it was very hectic in here, having to explain the situation and turn people away," she said.

Camelot's Rob Dwight apologised to retailers for the disruption and thanked them for their patience, but added that as the problem was intermittent and terminals were working from 6pm onwards, there would be no compensation.