Premium bond winners sought

The biggest unclaimed prize in Cornwall is worth £5,000

Nearly £500,000 worth of premium bonds won by people in the South West remains unclaimed.

Officials from National Savings and Investments are trying to trace several thousand winners who have not come forward.

They say the value of unclaimed prizes has reached its highest ever level.

Nearly £300,000 is unclaimed in Devon, while the figure is more than £180,000 in Cornwall.

The biggest unclaimed prize is worth £5,000 and was won by a person from St Austell.

No time limit

There are also many £1,000 awards waiting to be collected.

National Savings staff say they are keen to connect winners with their prizes.

The most common reason why money is not claimed is because people moving house have not passed on their new address.

Some people were given premium bonds as children which they have forgotten about.

Some unpaid prizes date back more than 40 years and National Savings staff say there is no time limit on claiming.

Across the South West, more than £1.5m of premium bond prizes remain unclaimed.