FOR the millions who each week invest a pound in the dream of a life-changing Lottery win, enhancing the region's landscape is most likely not at the forefront of their minds in the queue for their tickets.

But, quite possibly unknown to them, devoted Lotto players have been helping to change the face of the North-East for years.

Over the past decade, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) - armed with the contributions from ticket sales -has spent £133m on about 800 projects.

The work has transformed dozens of areas, from former County Durham mining communities to the wilds of the Yorkshire Dales.

The HLF celebrates its tenth birthday on Saturday and, despite its achievements so far, is keen to spend more money in parts of the region.

Despite the organisation being established a decade ago, it has only had a specific base in the North-East for a brief time.

Three years ago, a consultation exercise said dividing the HLF into regional bodies was crucial for the future.

As a result, it was divided into 12 areas, with the North-East office set up in Newcastle.

North-East manager Dr Keith Bartlett said: "Everyone in the team either comes from the region or has settled in the region.

"I do not think you can work in this region unless you are part of it and understand it."

In its short time, the North-East team has overseen many projects that may have seemed wildly ambitious at first, but have gone on to make a difference to communities and local economies.

Dr Bartlett cites the £26,000 award to the Seaham, Dawdon and Vane Tempest Banner Fund as one example.

Children and miners came together to research the area's proud heritage and repair the collieries' original banner.

The town lost its three pits in 1992 and the money helped ensure that children were fully aware of their rich history and the men who worked the mines.

Dr Bartlett said: "I have seen a big change in mining heritage. Initially, there was a reluctance to celebrate the mines because the miners' strike was still in recent memory and there were all the mine closures."

Another project to unite a community in an extraordinary way was the saving of the Blaydon Races painting.

A grant of £124,000 helped save William C Irving's classic work for the region after it went under the hammer at Sotheby's in 2002.

It now has a permanent home at Gateshead's Shipley Art Gallery.

Dr Bartlett said: "That was a real marker of what a success the fund can be.

"It really got the community going. People were talking about that in the pubs, on match days at St James's Park and everywhere. It really mattered to people on the streets."

The saving of Gayle Mill, near Hawes, North Yorkshire, the restoration of Albert Park, in Middlesbrough, and the refurbishment of Saltburn Pier have been among other schemes to be given backing.

One of the HLF's most recent projects - to help the re-opening of Weardale Railway, in County Durham -has proved one of its most stunning success stories.

It backed the efforts of a small group of enthusiasts who dedicated themselves to restoring the rural line.

In July, the area felt immense pride as services resumed.

Looking to the future, investment in Wear Valley remains a key target. It, along with Stockton and Chester-le-Street, has not taken up the amount of money that the HLF would have liked it to.

Dr Bartlett said officials wanted to see more applications, particularly from poorer areas.

He said: "Having a base in the region now, we can work with the people on the ground, share their enthusiasm and hopefully help them achieve what they want. Heritage is about all sorts of things. It is not just old buildings - it is wildlife, it is the environment and everything that makes the North-East great."

* HLF development manager Rachel Ward can be contacted to discuss applications on 0191-255 7584.

* Tomorrow, read how the Heritage Lottery Fund helped Weardale Railway to re-open.