Food projects across the country are among those benefitting from a share of more than £8 million from the Big Lottery Fund's (Big) Awards for All scheme.

Overall, 972 projects across England including those led by primary schools, charities and voluntary organisations, received between £500 and £10,000.

A voluntary organisation in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, received £9,238 for a food festival which will include workshops such as cookery demonstrations, foraging for wild food, bee-keeping, keeping chickens and growing fruit and vegetables in small spaces.

The Homegrown Food Group will celebrate local food producers, helping them showcase their products and bringing local people closer to locally-produced food.

Voluntary group Washington Community Food Project in Washington, Tyne & Wear, received £8,250 to deliver food parcels to disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Joanne Dobinson, founder and secretary, said: ''Our food parcels are aimed at any anyone who needs them - it doesn't matter if they are still working as there are people on low incomes who still struggle to make ends meet. Sometimes a straw will break the camel's back and they come to us.

''Our parcels contain enough food for at least three days although they should last longer than that. Our service is badly needed in these very difficult times.''

Meanwhile, Grange Primary School in Hartlepool received £9,980 to create a vegetable garden, outdoor classroom and install a fitness trim-trail into the school grounds.

In a similar scheme, Bowesfield Primary School in Stockton receives £9,980 to create an allotment-style garden with a 'play and learn' area. This will enable the school to provide a gardening club for the school community, combining play with learning about healthy eating.