PREMIUM Bond prizes worth more than £1.2million are waiting to be claimed in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The search is on for the winners of more than 28,500 unclaimed prizes.

Premium Bonds prize warrants can go undelivered and unclaimed as a result of changes of addresses and people losing track of their Bonds.

The oldest unclaimed prize from the region dates back to 1963 and the largest amount yet to be claimed is £10,000, which was won by a female in August 2012.

Jill Waters, NS&I’s assistant director of retail experience, said they are hoping that the winners will come forward.

She 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.

NS&I are encouraging Premium Bonds holders to reduce the chances of their prizes becoming unclaimed by opting to have any prizes paid directly into their bank. To sign up holders should visit: http://www.nsandi.com/register-our-online-service.