TICKETS for the new Somerset West Lottery – with a £25,000 top prize – are selling fast ahead of the first draw on Saturday (July 29).

The local on-line lottery www.somersetwestlottery.co.uk has been set up by Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council, and is open to anyone aged over 16 to raise money for charities and local good causes in Taunton Deane and West Somerset.

It costs £1 per game to play and players could win up to £25,000 as part of the weekly draw. Those without internet access can call 0300 30 20 666 to buy a ticket. The cost of dialling this telephone number is exactly the same as calling a geographic landline telephone number.

The councils want to make sure good causes and local charities can continue to receive financial support into the future.

Sixty per cent of the money raised will go to local good causes. The rest of the money will go towards the prize money, an external lottery manager who will run the game and VAT.

Players can 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 will be informed via email and will have the money transferred automatically to their chosen bank account.

Everyone who buys a ticket for the first draw will automatically be entered for the chance to win a two-night stay at the Royal Seven Stars Hotel, Totnes (https://www.

royalsevenstars.co.uk/), a sister hotel to the Luttrell Hotel in Dunster. The councils would like to thank Anne and Nigel Way, the owners of the luxury hotels, for the generous prize for the first draw.