The latest Lottery has brought in just short of £1MfortheRNLI! After the winter 2005 income of almost £750,000, itself a record, the spring 2006 Lifeboat Lottery bettered all expectations with an amazing £976,000. This princely sum could fund more than 40 volunteer crew members through 20 years of training (at today's prices). Thank you to all those who bought or sold tickets.

Congratulations! The first prize of a Ford Ka, kindly sponsored by Arnold Clark Ltd, was won by Allan McDonald of Worcestershire - much to his surprise! Allan's wife Elsa explains: 'I regularly give to the RNLI when I see the fundraisers collecting in the local area, but I'd never heard of the Lifeboat Lottery. Allan bought a ticket at a club he attends but he'd forgotten all about it. 'We'd just returned from a holiday in Germany to find a letter saying we'd won a new car. We need a new one at the moment, so we couldn't believe our luck and can't wait to pick up the keys.' Sir Arnold Clark said:'My congratulations go to Mr McDonald. I'm sure he will love driving away the Ford Ka and, on behalf of all my staff, we look forward to seeing him in the future for all his motoring needs. 'I am delighted that our Ka has managed to help raise such an amazing amount of money for such a worthwhile cause. We've hopefully increased awareness of the invaluable work of the RNLI and their dedicated team of volunteers too.' Arnold Clark's Drew Sommerville presents a delighted Mr and Mrs McDonald with their Ford Ka orlrYour chance to win! It's nearly time to enter the autumn 2006 Lifeboat Lottery: tickets are available from 17 July-15 September, and the draw takes place on 29 September. If you don't already receive tickets regularly, please call 0845 121 4999 or email [email protected].

(Unfortunately, because of the varying tax and gaming laws, tickets are not available in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.) First prize this time is a 3-door Mitsubishi Colt (may differ from picture) and second prize is a cruise, kindly sponsored by the RNLI's long-term corporate supporter,Travelscope Holidays Ltd. Richard Ford, MD of Travelscope says: 'It is fantastic that Travelscope are able to continue sponsoring the Lifeboat Lottery. We hope that the autumn 2006 Lottery will be as successful as previous ones at raising funds to help the RNLI continue what they do best - saving lives at sea'.

There will also be seven cash prizes, ranging from £100 to £500.

Congratulations also to the other spring 2006 prize winners: £1,000 cash Two-night hotel break for two £250 cash £100 cash £100 cash £100 cash £100 cash £100 cash Mrs EM Weaver (Worcestershire) Mrs S Hicks (East Sussex) MrsAJ Ford (Staffordshire) Mrs SP Burroughs (Isle of Wight) Mr F Elgie (London) Mr A Hardy (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Mrs CCPhillippo (Norfolk) Mr and Mrs NRH Semmence (Somerset).