YOUNGSTERS at a playgroup are getting arty thanks to a cash boost.

St Bede's Playgroup in Sacriston, has been awarded £160 through the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend scheme.

The group plans to use the cash to buy new arts and crafts materials.

Monica Ord, playgroup leader, said: 'We recently relocated to a building which has very limited storage so we were forced to get rid of a lot of our creative craft supplies.

"As a result of a number of fundraising events we've managed to buy some new storage units and now have room to build our supplies up again."

The community dividend fund is made up of donations from Co-op customers.

Last year it supported more than 350 projects in the North-East and Cumbria with grants worth £150,000.