MORE than £590,000 of Premium Bond prizes remain unclaimed in Cheshire, according to latest figures.

NS&I are calling for Premium Bonds holders to come forward to claim their prizes and to sign-up to have their winnings paid directly into their bank accounts to reduce the chances of prizes going unclaimed in future after revealing 14,000 cash prizes are still sat in the bank.

In Cheshire the biggest unclaimed prize is owed to a woman from September 2008 who could pick up £7,250 in winnings with bond number 12ER429713.

A man from the area could also collect £4,800 with bond number 12BH021693 while there are also a number of £1,000 prizes.

Jill Waters, NS&I’s assistant director, said: “It is likely that the winners of the unclaimed prizes are unaware or have forgotten that they have Premium Bonds. "Prizes often become unclaimed as a result of people moving house, or forgetting that Bonds have been bought for them as a child, or executors are unaware the Bonds are held when someone dies.

“By opting to manage your Premium Bonds online you could reduce the risk of missing out on prizes as they can be paid directly into your bank account.”

There is no time limit for claiming prizes. Premium Bonds investors can check to see if they have won by visiting nsandi.com and using the Premium Bonds prize checker on the homepage.