‘Ernie’ makes millionaires of two lucky Yorkshire residents

National Savings and Investment (NSI) has today revealed that both of the winners of this month’s £1m prize hail from West Yorkshire – representing a first for the nation.

November’s jackpot-scoopers, the identities of whom have not been revealed, live in Leeds and Kirklees respectively. The NSI says it is the first time both £1m prizes have been paid in the same county.

It also revealed that Leeds’ lucky winner only bought their bond back in September, meaning the winning month was the first time they were eligible in the draw.

The last time such a feat happened was more than seven years ago.

The two jackpot prizes were reintroduced in August, before which the scheme, introduced by Harold Macmillan in 1956 in a bid to reduce inflation, previously paid two £1m prizes from August 2005 to April 2009.

The pair have ‘Ernie’, or electronic random number indicator equipment, to thank for their new-found wealth.

An NSI spokesman said: “For the November 2014 draw, ‘Ernie’ paid out almost two million prizes, together amounting to almost £58m in value.

“In West Yorkshire there are over 600,000 Premium Bonds holdings worth more than £1bn.”

Bond holders in Yorkshire are being encouraged to use the website nsandi.com to check if they have won a prize over the last six months, as over 22,000 worth £1m remain unclaimed.