COMMUNITY groups across the Wear Valley and Sedgefield are sharing in a £500,000 National Lottery giveaway announced for the North-East yesterday.

The latest round of Awards for All National Lottery grants have benefited 135 school projects, sports clubs and other groups. Each has received up to £5,000.

Among the beneficiaries are Willington Cricket Club, which celebrated its centenary last summer and is now able launch a programme promoting the sport among junior and women players.

The money will help the club set up under-11 and female sections, run coaching courses and train more coaches to cope with the extra demand.

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Coundon, is setting up an after-school programme with the money it receives.

The Centurions Juvenile Jazz Band, in Willington, is using its grant to buy new uniforms and instruments to help its young members learn musical skills and develop their confidence.

Village pigeon fanciers are also sharing in the handout. Evenwood Workingmen's Club Homing Society is buying extra equipment with its cash.

The Nifty Fifties, in Sedgefield, are arranging six activity days throughout the year, while Trimdon Colliery Community Association is organising arts and sporting activities and outings.

West Cornforth Primary School will offer a full programme of extra curricular activities five days a week for 30 weeks, including netball, football, tennis, table-tennis, running, computing, glass painting, cross-stitch and handicrafts.

Pat Lowes, the award scheme's senior officer for the North-East, said: "We are very happy to have been able to fund such a large number of groups. We have our committee meetings every two months and this success rate is expected to continue with a similar amount of £450,000 being spent at each committee meeting."

Another spokesman for the project said: "The number of grants funded and the amount of money spent so far certainly indicates that Awards for All funding is making a big difference to people and their communities within the North-East."