It’s been a day for surprises in the post.

I finally picked up my raffle prize from the harvest display. I was worried it would be some twee piece of pottery depicting corn being cut but instead it turned out to be a rather presentable orange thermos flask.

I have to say I was wondering who had written to me from Spain as I opened the letter. It turns out to be a rather badly photocopied letter from the rather grandly named “Leasing, Commission Agents, Sole Representatives and Security Services” of Loteria Primitiva.

My personally photocopied letter from Don Ryan Lopez, the foreign service manager of Groupama (Seguros) Security Company S.A., tells me I have won €680,000 and all I need to do to claim it is send them 10% of that figure to cover the insurance they paid to insure the money in a bank.

Clearly Spanish banks are not to be trusted if you need to insure the money you place with them.

Just in case Mr Lopez, or his friends, have been photocopying again and you receive one of these letters have a quick look at Loterias y Apuestas de Estado’s website here.

¡Cuidados!