COMMUNITY groups and organisations in South Durham are celebrating more than £54,000 in grants to develop their work.

Cash payouts of between £500 and £5,000 have been made in the latest round of grants from the Lottery funded Awards For All organisation.

Groups across Sedgefield borough received a total of more than £42,000.

West Cornforth Senior Citizens' Association will be able to pay for a series of educational outings with its £1,900 grant, while £1,962 will pay for a Thickley Ward Fun Sunday event in Shildon.

Tudhoe Young People's Group receives £2,300 to put on a range of arts and sports activities throughout the year.

Byerley Road Pre-School Holiday Club, in Shildon, receives £3,000 to run various activities and outings.

A £4,110 award goes to Spennymoor Youth and Community Association to pay for a variety of projects, and the Sedgefield Area Committee receives £4,700 to pay for drama tutoring for young people.

The Newton Aycliffe Royal British Legion Pipes and Drums get £4,710 to upgrade uniforms, and a maximum award of £5,000 goes to Community and Voluntary Organisations in Sedgefield, enabling the group to publish and distribute a newsletter.

In the Wear Valley, five groups share a total of £12,126.

St Cuthbert's RCVA Primary School, in Crook, receives £3,734 to train volunteers to undertake a pre-school gymnastics award.

Leeholme and Coundon Juniors AFC will cover its first year start-up costs with a £3,728 grant, while Hunwick Community Association gets £3,054 to pay for equipment for the association's playgroup.

Toronto Community Association receives £890 and Roddymoor Village Hall Community Association gets £720 to hold Jubilee celebrations in their communities.

The Chinese Association North-East Region and Childcall, both of which operate in the area, receive £4,992 and £3,477 respectively.