MORE than £10m of Lottery money is being invested in healthy living projects around the region.

They range from helping disabled youngsters in East Cleveland learn to sail to improving access to healthcare on Darlington's Firthmoor estate.

Other highlights among the dozens of schemes include a new treatment centre for drug addicts in the Wear Valley, and a healthy-eating bus and community allotments in the Durham dales.

The largest single allocation of £1.9m from the New Opportunities Fund will be used to develop 15 projects in the Wear Valley and Teesdale areas of County Durham.

Another £1m is being ploughed into a scheme, which is targeted particularly at under-25s in Derwentside, County Durham

Healthy living schemes in Darlington (£558,000), Middlesbrough (£960,000) and Redcar and Cleveland (£865,000) have also been announced.

All of the projects aim to support schemes that will improve the quality of life of those who are most disadvantaged in society.

The award to a team led by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust will fund a drug addiction service, a crime prevention scheme, nutrition education, mental well-being projects, legal and consumer advice, information technology training, disability access scheme and support for carers.

Phil Gover, spokesman for the Dales PCT, said: "I think this programme is fantastic news for our population."

He singled out plans to develop a new substance abuse treatment centre in Bishop Auckland as one of the most promising projects.

The Young and Fit In Derwentside project targets young people up to 25 and focuses on issues such as substance misuse, sexual health, teenage pregnancy, under-aged drinking as well as providing advice on healthy eating, cookery, shopping on a budget and exercise classes.

In Darlington, the cash will go towards setting up a one-stop health shop on the Firthmoor estate and promote exercise classes, stress manage- ment and improved footcare.

The centre will be staffed by a specially-trained nurse, who will be able to prescribe medication and give health advice.

Mark Fabb, chairman of the Firthmoor Partnership Board, said: "It is going to make a real difference."

Exercise classes for children are among the Healthy Living In Middlesbrough projects, which concentrate on the well being of young people and their families who are at risk of being in poor mental health.

A £260,000 award to Stockton Borough Council will include the provision of affordable healthy meals in the Clarences area.