COMMUNITY groups and organisations across South Durham are celebrating more than £54,000 in grants to develop their work.

Cash payouts of between £500 and £5,000 have been made in the latest round of grants from the National Lottery-funded Awards For All organisation.

Groups across Sedgefield borough received a total of more than £42,000.

West Cornforth Senior Citizens' Association will be able to pay for a series of educational outings with its £1,900 grant, while £1,962 will help fund a Thickley Ward Fun Sunday event in Shildon.

Tudhoe Young People's Group receives £2,300 towards holding arts and sports activities throughout the year.

A £2,600 award has been made to Ferryhill Town Council so it can work with young people to design and create a Golden Jubilee fountain with help from a professional stonemason.

Byerley Road Pre-School Holiday Club, in Shildon, receives £3,000 for activities and outings.

Ferryhill Station and Chilton Lane Ward Residents' Association will purchase two portable computers and hire a tutor to teach housebound residents computer skills with its £3,026 grant.

A £4,110 award goes to Spennymoor Youth and Community Association for a variety of projects, and the Sedgefield Area Committee receives £4,700 for drama tutoring for young people.

The Newton Aycliffe Royal British Legion Pipes and Drums gets £4,710 to upgrade uniforms, and a maximum award of £5,000 goes to Community and Voluntary Organisations in Sedgefield, enabling the group to publish and distribute a newsletter.

The Sarah Scott School of Highland Dancing receives £3,825 towards the cost of establishing itself, while Ferryhill Station Primary School receives £5,000 towards providing an outside play area to extend its services to pre-school children.

In the Wear Valley, five groups share a total of £12,126.

St Cuthbert's RCVA Primary School, in Crook, receives £3,734 to train volunteers to undertake a pre-school gymnastics award.

Football club Leeholme and Coundon Juniors will cover its first year start-up costs with a £3,728 grant, while Hunwick Community Association gets £3,054 to pay for equipment for its playgroup.

Toronto Community Association receives £890 and Roddymoor Village Hall Community Association gets £720 to hold Golden Jubilee celebrations in their communities.

The Chinese Association North-East Region and Childcall, which both operate in the area, receive £4,992 and £3,477 respectively