YOUNGSTERS are looking forward to plenty of fun in the future, thanks to a major Lottery windfall which will provide their villages with new sports and play facilities.

More than £50,000 has been awarded to the communities of Nawton and Beadlam near Helmsley to fund three different sets of outdoor facilities.

The delighted secretary of the playing fields committee, Bernadette Wright, said: "There are going to be three areas to cater for everyone with an area for teenagers, a place for infants and a separate area for juniors.

"Hopefully, we will be able to get started in the next six weeks or so."

The windfall from the National Lottery will also pay for an electricity supply to the sports pavilion, while a drop-in centre is planned for the older children in the area.

The Beckett Recreation Club is overseeing the development and chairwoman, Chris Rymer, said they were hoping to have the drop-in facility up and running from next year, with help and advice available to those teenagers who wanted it.

"We don't have anywhere at the moment, so this would be somewhere for the older children to drop in, have a coffee and a chat," she said.

"It would be like a youth club really, with a darts board and a table tennis facility."

Mrs Rymer said, with an electricity supply to the pavilion in Nawton, it would be easier to provide hot drinks and better lighting; at the moment, they rely on bottled gas.

With the improved facilities, the club is looking to organise more frequent events to include the community.

"We really want to try and make this a community centre and, hopefully, we can make it more of a meeting place with a better kitchen and so on.

"We hope things will be up and running by Easter, although some of that will depend on the weather.

"The Lottery funding is a fantastic start, although the money has already been spent - every penny has been accounted for."