NS&I celebrates 50 years of premium bonds prizes

On 1 June 2007 almost 24 million people will all be waiting for one announcement: the winning numbers of the biggest Premium Bond draw to date. Almost 1.5 million prizes worth £116 million will be paid out including five £1 million jackpots.

This draw which marks 50 years since ERNIE first went into action, will have a record number of Bonds in the draw and will feature the largest prize fund in the history of Premium Bonds.

First launched in 1956, Premium Bonds have become one of Britain's most successful financial products with £36 billion currently invested by almost 40% of the population.