Bradford was today in the grip of National Lottery fever as thousands of people across the city were hoping for a £1 million hat-trick.

Two £1 million wins in a matter of days in the district have sparked a gold rush among the city's punters hoping that success will come in threes.

First, the Telegraph & Argus revealed exclusively on Thursday how Keighley couple Philip and Susan Bowness scooped more than £1,253,926 in last weekend's draw.

Then yesterday it was announced that 20-year-old student radiographer Louise Hall, of Crossflatts, near Bingley, won £1,029,331 in Wednesday's draw.

Camelot, the organisers of the National Lottery, admitted it was amazing for two jackpot prizes from successive draws to go to people living just a few miles apart.

And Bradford's National Lottery outlets were today dealing with a rush from thousands of punters hoping to follow their success.

Farwan Singh, owner of City News, Market Street, Bradford, said: "The big wins do make a difference in ticket sales because people get more excited.

"They think, if it can happen to them it can happen to me. I also think that customers are proud when winners are found from the Bradford area."

Eric Hudson, who runs Hudson's Newsagents in Market Square, Shipley, and is vice-president of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: "People have been talking about the two big wins quite a lot and there has been an increase in ticket sales."

Balbir Bhogal, of Bhogal BS newsagent, Keighley, said: "People feel more lucky and are more inclined to keep buying the tickets because they feel they're able to win."

John Cook, manager of United News, Skipton Road, Ilkley, added: "Customers seem more excited this week. I've already noticed an increase in sales and we're expecting more later on Saturday."

Hat-trick hopefuls were left chomping at the bit, however, yesterday when an electrical fault left all Bradford city centre Camelot machines out of order for several hours.

Parvez Abbas, manager of Barkers newsagent, Sunbridge Road, said: "I've already noticed an increase in customers because of the big wins in the area - people want a share in the luck."

Housewife Shereen Brown, 19, of Holme Wood, Bradford, said: "Hopefully it will be me this weekend." Cynthia Davies, 52, of Raglan Terrace, Bradford Moor, said: "I feel lucky all the time, I always feel like I'm going to win. It will be third time lucky for me."

Finola Davies, 29, a single mum, of Bradford Moor, said: "I believe in all the superstitious stuff like third time lucky. If I use my lucky birthday numbers it's got to be me this week."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.