It has also emerged that government solicitors have been sacked by the National Lottery Commission after being blamed for causing the chaos.

BBC: Lottery shutdown warning

The National Lottery Commission will give its final decision in November.

BBC: Lottery shutdown warning

The National Lottery Commission rejected both Camelot's and the People's Lottery's bids to run the lottery in August saying there were problems with each package of proposals.

BBC: Lottery shutdown warning

The National Lottery is run by the National Lottery Commission.

ECONOMIST: Gambling

After five months of extensive examination of the bids for the next seven year National Lottery licence (including a period for both bids to be improved) the National Lottery Commission has determined that neither of the bidders' plans meets the statutory criteria for granting a licence.

BBC: Lottery Commission statement

Also involved in the project are Gateshead Council, Northumbrian Water, the National Trust and The Forestry Commission with additional funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Environmental Trust.

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The Commission is governed by the National Lottery etc Act 1993, which gives it overriding duties to licence a National Lottery that ensures the National Lottery is run and promoted with all due propriety, and that the interests of every participant are protected.

BBC: Lottery Commission statement