COMMUNITY groups responsible for everything from boxing, brass and bowling to allotments and electric cars are set to benefit after more than 900 people turned out to vote on the projects they want to help.

About 920 people attended the Spennymoor Area Action Partnership [AAP] Its Up 2 U event to vote for which community projects should get funding this year.

Fifteen of the 27 projects will get a share of the cash while the others will get continued support to look at funding alternatives.

AAP coordinator Michael Wilkes said: “It went fantastically and we had well over 900 people attending which is more than we had last year.

"It was a really positive event and there were a number of new groups on display. These things help people network and raises awareness about what’s out there in the community. One man told me it had restored his faith in the community.

“On the day one of the main things is voting for the projects that get funding but ultimately, at the end of the day it’s not the be all and end all. It’s about the community coming together and realising what’s out there.”

Those winning a share of funding were The Solan Connor Fawcett Cancer Trust for the shop fitting of its charity boutique, Spennymoor Gala Committee, which got £3,000 towards the cost of next year’s event and parade and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, which got £3,000 for a young firefighters' association.

Sports clubs to benefit include Spennymoor Boxing Academy, the youth football clubs in Spennymoor and Byers Green, Tudhoe Cricket Club and Chi Spennymoor Taekwondo Club.

Spennymoor Town Band, Spennymoor Stage and Song, The Learning Library, which provides specialist toys and items for children and young people with learning disabilities, and Rosa Street School, which is running a community allotment project, also got funding.

Other groups to benefit were 1st Byers Green Scouts, early years child care group Home on the Range and Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College, which got funding for an electric car project.

It is the third time an event like this has been held in Spennymoor. Those attending the forum event also got to vote for the AAP’s spending priorities for the next year, which will be announced in 2016.