Lucky Shropshire resident wins Premium Bonds jackpot in November prize draw

One lucky Shropshire resident has woken up considerably richer this week after winning the top prize in the monthly Premium Bonds draw.

The person, whose identity remains a closely guarded secret, received a visit from the mysterious 'Agent Million' to tell them they were one of two lucky winners of £1 million for November.

The Shropshire winner had the full allowance of £50,000 in Premium Bonds while the other was someone from London with £30,000 in Premium Bonds.

Premium Bonds is a government scheme which allows people to buy bonds for £1 each - up to a maximum of £50,000 - which are then entered into a monthly draw, carried out by a computer programme named ERNIE (Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment).

Bonds do not pay interest like a traditional savings account but instead could win tax-free prizes ranging from £25 up to £1 million each month. They are guaranteed by the Treasury and can be taken back by the holder at any time for the same value.

The winning bond number from Shropshire was 652GW962089 and the lucky owner is the fifth person from the county to take home the £1 million jackpot.

This month's draw has also seen 96 winners of £100,000, the second-highest prize, while 192 winners will receive £50,000.

It is also a special occasion this month as it marks the 70th anniversary since the first-ever Premium Bonds went on sale in November 1956 while the first draw was held in June 1957.

Since then, 871.5 million prizes worth £43.8 billion have been won by savers while just this month alone more than £500 million has been handed out through more than 6.5 million prizes.

Andrew Westhead, retail director with National Savings & Investments which operates the Premium Bonds, said: "Seventy years ago, the first Premium Bonds went on sale, marking the beginning of what has become one of the nation's best-loved savings products.

"It's fantastic to celebrate this milestone with two new millionaires and generations of savers who continue to enjoy the monthly excitement of checking if they have won tax-free prizes.

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"And the celebrations don't stop here as in June we'll mark another special anniversary - 70 years since the first Premium Bonds prizes were won.

"We wish all our 22 million Premium Bonds holders the very best of luck in all future draws."

Premium Bonds were introduced by Chancellor Harold Macmillan in his Budget in April 1956 as a way to encourage Britons to save and to control inflation.

At that time, the maximum allowed for any one person to hold was £500 and £5 million of Premium Bonds were sold on the first day of going on sale on November 1, 1956.

The original jackpot prize was £1,000 which has increased over the years and has been £1 million since April 1994, since when 590 new millionaires have been created.