THREE projects in north and east Durham are to benefit in a fresh round of grants for former mining communities.

Murton Family Centre, in Murton, near Seaham, receives £4,434. The Easington Colliery Regeneration project will get £10,000 and Stanley Young People's Centre in Stanley will receive £8,267.

The funding is part of a round of 11 grants to North-East groups, made by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

Anna White, regeneration manager for the trust in the North-East, said: "As a charity, we support community activities that bring people together.

"We encourage people to take a more active part in regenerating their local area and this is reflected in the way grants are awarded."

Other schemes to benefit include Sunderland Council for Voluntary Service and Little Tiggers creche, in Sunderland