TWO dales organisations are celebrating this week after receiving substantial sums of lottery cash.

Cotherstone village hall and Wear Valley disability access forum are among 24 groups across the North-East to receive a share of just over £3m awarded by the National Lotteries Charities Board.

The village hall committee will use the £22,440 it received to renew the roof of its premises. Treasurer Mr Mike Hemingway said the committee was delighted with the cash, which would go a long way towards the total cost of £38,000. The committee contributed £9,000 to the scheme, and Teesdale village halls consortium came up with almost £7,000. This year's annual donation of £500 by the parish council will also be added to the pot.

Mrs Ann Cowie of Wear Valley disability access forum was thrilled with its award of £59,185.

"It will help with core funding and to pay for a part time worker for the next three years, enabling us to keep providing help to the ever increasing number of people who use our services," she said.

The cash will also be used in a schools awareness programme, to educate young people about the difficulties of living with disabilities and the discrimination people can face.

"It might involve asking a pupil to use a wheelchair to access shops and public buildings in their area, or just a classroom talk," said Mrs Cowie. "The programme is all about raising awareness."

If any school in the dale would like to receive information about the programme, it should contact Mrs Cowie on 01388 763994