AN MP has toured projects which have been given money from the Big Lottery Fund.

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods visited the St Andrew's Youth Partnership and Brandon Youth Project, Durham Bike and Skate Partnership, Newton Hall Bowling Club and Belmont Allotments Club.

She said: "Seeing each of these projects on the ground shows how much difference even small grants can make to really important community projects.

"The new youth partnership project in Brandon will allow young people to play a more active part in their community, aims to engage them and thereby help reduce anti-social behaviour in the village.

"Several youth workers have been funded for the project from Big Lottery Fund grants and money has been given to enable a coast-to-coast bike ride for abled and non-abled young people."

About 350 projects in Durham City have benefited from the Big Lottery Fund.

Dr Blackman-Woods holds an annual Big Lottery Fund surgery to advise groups on how to obtain grants.