PEOPLE in the North-East are being asked to help shape the priorities of the new distributor of National Lottery money.

The Big Lottery Fund has been formed from the New Opportunities and the Community Fund, which previously made donations to good causes.

Today, the fund is holding a consultation event at Newcastle's International Centre for Life.

It is asking for views on how it should allocate grants, what types of grants it should give and how it can work more effectively.

The Newcastle event is one of a series across the country.

Various organisations in the community, voluntary and private sectors, are taking part along with councils and other interested individuals and bodies.

Fund chairman Sir Clive Booth, who is attending the event, said: "We have high hopes for the Big Lottery Fund and we are looking forward to hearing the views of the people of Newcastle on how we work and what they want us to achieve.

"People's ideas from all of the events being held across the UK will be key to how we will develop our future funding programmes.''

Fund regional manager Tim Davies-Pugh said: "The Big Lottery team in the North-East is very keen to hear what our community in and around Newcastle have to say about the direction and shape they would like the new distributor to take on.

"Sharing and exchanging views and ideas in this way will be formative and valuable."