THE first SeaMoor Lotto draw took place at the beginning of the month and saw ten lucky winners across West Devon and South Hams.

One winner matched three numbers and won £25. A further nine people matched two numbers and won three extra tickets to play the lottery.

To celebrate the start of the lottery, nine people were selected at random to win some fantastic prizes, including £200 worth of natural, Devon-made dog food from Forthglade, an iPad, afternoon tea for two at The Bedford Hotel in Tavistock and a family swim pass for use at Fusion Lifestyle leisure centres.

There were 730 tickets sold ahead of the first SeaMoor Lotto draw, which supported more than 60 local charities and good causes across West Devon and South Hams. With ticket sales at this level, SeaMoor Lotto is currently on track to raise nearly £24,000 a year for local good causes.

Cllr Neil Jory, West Devon Borough Council’s hub lead member for the lottery, said: ‘For the lottery to be raising such an incredible amount of funds for local good causes is a testament to the people who are supporting the community lottery by purchasing tickets. I actively encourage more people to support local good causes to help increase the amount we can raise.’

Cllr John Tucker, leader of South Hams District Council, said: ‘Local people and businesses have really got on board to support SeaMoor Lotto, either by purchasing tickets or by donating prizes, all with the aim of supporting the local good causes that have signed up. The more people that buy a £1 ticket for the weekly Saturday night draw, the greater the financial benefit to those charities and good causes that have joined.’

Tickets cost £1 each and 60% goes back to local good causes, in comparison to just 28% contributed by the National Lottery. The remaining 40% goes back into the prize fund and pays for the running costs. Players are able to set up a monthly payment in advance with the option to do a three, six or 12-month repeating subscription by direct debit or payment card. Winners are informed over email and will have the money transferred automatically to their chosen bank account.

The SeaMoor Lotto was set up by West Devon Borough and South Hams District councils to provide support to local good causes and charities. Each £1 ticket has a 1 in 50 chance of winning a prize every week. This includes a £25,000 jackpot prize if you match all six numbers in the correct order, as well as various other cash prizes.

Local good causes interested in joining SeaMoor Lotto can still sign up to the local lottery which is an ongoing initiative whereby they will receive their own dedicated fundraising page.

Visit www.seamoorlotto.co.uk for more information.