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Ilford scoops Lotto's luckiest title

Lucky Britain

1. Ilford

2. Perth

3. Watford

4. Romford

5. Enfield

6. Northampton

7. Crewe

8. Tunbridge Wells

9. Darlington

10. Doncaster

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The town of Ilford on the outskirts of Greater London has been named the luckiest place in Britain for National Lottery jackpot winners.

There have been 22 winning tickets from the town - equivalent to one for every 9 429 eligible players.

Lottery operator Camelot said as a result 10 millionaires had been created in Ilford, which has 207 448 people old enough to play.

At the other end of the lottery lucky list is Telford in Shropshire, where there have been just 3 jackpot tickets, but none of the winners became millionaires. The chances of hitting the jackpot there were one in 47 261.

Camelot analysed jackpot winners on the main Lottery draw since its launch in 1994, including ‘Lotto Extra’ and ‘Christmas Millionaire Maker’.

Ilford's previous claims to fame include the fact that it is the birthplace of television presenters Noel Edmonds and Jenny Powell.

It is also the town where England football star turned commentator Trevor Brooking went to school.

Camelot said the total amount of prize money over £10 000 won by players in the town on the three games is more than £44m.

Second luckiest place in the list was Perth, Scotland, which has seen 11 jackpot winning tickets, creating 7 millionaires.

Poor sales

Watford in Hertfordshire is in third place with 14 jackpot winning tickets and 7 millionaires.

Others in the top 10 of lucky places: Romford; Essex; Enfield; Greater London; Northampton; Crewe; Cheshire; Tunbridge Wells; Kent; Darlington; County Durham; Doncaster; South Yorkshire.

The National Lottery has had the worst six months of sales since its launch in 1994, Camelot reported this week.

Revenue from the various Lottery games slumped to almost £2.3bn in the period to 28 September, down 5.2% on the same time last year.

Camelot say that there has been at least one jackpot winner in all 115 postcode areas with an eligible population over 100 000.

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