GROUPS in the Ferryhill and Chilton area have been awarded grants for projects designed and developed by residents.

The Resource and Services Project (Rasp) is funded through the Government's Single Regeneration Budget programme.

It has been designed to support groups, organisations, associations and partnerships wanting to develop community led projects in Ferryhill, Chilton, Cornforth, Fishburn and Trimdon.

At a recent meeting of the programme's community regeneration working group, four projects were allocated more than £19,000.

The Chilton West Residents Association was awarded £2,650.

Chilton Community College has received £2,000.

The Ladder Community House project in Ferryhill has been awarded £6,000 towards the provision of a solar power energy scheme to help provide electrical power.

Ferryhill Comprehensive School has been given £2,000.

The award will provide a smart board and part fund a projector. The school will provide £2,272 for the remainder of the projector, lap top computer and other required equipment.

The smart board will complement the work being carried out in the school's UK Online Centre.