Thousands in Premium Bonds still unclaimed in Northumberland

ERNIE, the Premium Bonds computer housed in the steel cabinet in the background, churns out the wining numbers in the monthly draw at the Post Office Bonds and Stocks Division at Lytham St Annes, in December. 1964.

Five prizes of £1,000 each are still waiting to be claimed, with many more smaller amounts in the mix.

There is no time limit for claiming prizes and each unclaimed prize is held until the rightful winner can be tracked down.

The oldest unclaimed prize dates back to March 1967, where a Premium Bonds holder from Northumberland has a £50 prize waiting.

On Friday, a new ERNIE, the Premium Bonds random number generator, was launched. It uses state of the art quantum technology to generate the growing volume of numbers that have to be produced every month.

To check if you have an outstanding prize, visit nsandi.com or write to NS&I, Glasgow, G58 1SB.