Good causes from across the North-East are to share in a £1m windfall from the Big Lottery fund.

The fund, which combines the New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board, said that among those to benefit were people with Down's syndrome and deaf and blind adults.

Down's Syndrome North- East, which provides support for people with the condition, their parents and carers, has been given a £136,395 grant to expand its counselling, advice and support services across the region.

Ken Moore, of the organisation, said: "This will really make a big difference to many families, as we will be able to contact new parents of Down's syndrome children, hospitals and schools to tell them about our service".

Deafblind UK received £59,768 to help further develop its services to people often living in isolation, especially in rural parts of the North-East.

The Middlesbrough Environment City Trust, which aims to improve the health of children in the town through play, received £55,021.

Elsewhere, a partnership of three County Durham villages, Wingate, Station Town and Hutton Henry, was awarded a grant of £45,391 that will support residents in their plans to redevelop their green spaces and make improvements to the provision of youth activities locally.

The Parochial Church Council, Church of Ascension, Easington Colliery, east Durham, has received £8,900 to make improvements to its hall's facilities.

Tim Davies-Pugh, Big Lottery Fund North-East manager, said: "The recently awarded grants will continue to make a big difference to the lives of local people.

"They illustrate the range of excellent work that Lottery money supports throughout the North-East."

Other successful groups included the St John's Partnership, Newtown, Stockton, £151,179; Sherburn Road Community Action Partnership, Durham, £136,146; and Shild-on Community Safety Group, County Durham, £36,217.