People born between these years could be owed £2,200 from HMRC - check now

Thousands of young people could be sitting on unclaimed savings worth more than £2,000 without realising it. HMRC is urging anyone born between September 1, 2002, and January 2, 2011, to check whether they have a Child Trust Fund waiting to be claimed.

The government-backed savings scheme was set up for children born during this period, with an initial payment from HMRC to help kickstart long-term saving. Accounts were opened automatically for eligible children, and many families may have lost track of them over the years. Once the account holder turns 18, the money becomes theirs to withdraw or transfer into an adult ISA. But thousands of funds remain untouched, often because people don't realise an account exists in their name. The average amount waiting to be claimed is around £2,200, with some pots worth significantly more.

If you think you may have a Child Trust Fund, the process to track it down is free and relatively straightforward. Those who already know their provider can contact them directly to get access. If not, HMRC offers an online tool that allows you to find out where your account was originally opened.

To use the service, you'll need your National Insurance number. Parents or guardians searching on behalf of a child will be asked for their child's full name, address and date of birth, along with any previous names used. Once HMRC has received the request, they will send a letter with details of the provider, usually within three weeks if you apply online. Postal applications can take longer.

Accounts vary depending on how they were set up, but all will have continued to grow with interest or investment returns over time. Anyone can add up to £9,000 per year to a Child Trust Fund, although the scheme itself closed to new applicants in 2011. Many accounts were managed by parents or guardians until the child's 18th birthday, when legal control automatically transfers to the account holder.

If you do find that you have an unclaimed account, you can choose to withdraw the money or transfer it to an ISA. If no action is taken, the funds remain secure in the account until you're ready to access them.

For children who were in care during this period, accounts were set up and managed on their behalf by the Share Foundation, which continues to oversee them until the young person takes control.

In rare cases, if the account holder has died or is terminally ill, special arrangements allow parents or guardians to access the funds early, subject to the necessary legal documentation.

The Government launched the Child Trust Fund in 2005 to encourage saving from an early age. Each eligible child received an initial voucher worth at least £250, which was invested on their behalf. Accounts were provided by banks, building societies and other financial institutions, with families encouraged to contribute over the years.

More than six million accounts were opened before the scheme closed in 2011, and HMRC has repeatedly urged young people to check whether they have money waiting to be claimed.

Anyone aged 16 or over can use the HMRC tool to find their account, and parents or guardians can apply on behalf of children under 18.

You can find the official tracker tool on the gov.uk website by searching "Find a Child Trust Fund".