MORE than 100 clubs and groups in the North-East have been given grants in the latest round of the Awards for All Lottery-funding programme.

A total of £341,757 has been handed out to projects in the region as part of the National Lottery-backed awards announced today.

While organisers are pleas-ed at the number of clubs, members and communities benefiting from the initiative, they are also concerned that groups in some parts of the region are not making enough applications.

There are 106 North-East groups which have won grants of between £500 and £5,000.

But less than £5,000 in total is going to just two groups in Middlesbrough, which funders say is "simply not good enough".

Pat Lowes, senior awards officer for Awards for All in the North-East, said: "Our job is to get Lottery money out to local communities.

"Some areas do better than others, but we are getting concerned that within the Tees Valley area, clubs from Middlesbrough are just not applying and getting Lottery funding."

In contrast, a total of 25 clubs in County Durham have been given £76,900 between them.

Mrs Lowes said: "The Awards for All programme is specially aimed at local clubs or groups who may not have a lot of experience of getting Lottery funding.

"The application pack is straightforward to complete, and clubs should expect to get a decision within 12 weeks."

For more information, call the regional office on 0191-255 1100, or for an application pack call 0845 6002040.

Awards in Tees Valley

Hurworth Community Association Senior Citizens' Club, £673; Hurworth and District Over-60s' Club, £1,083; Neasham Reading Room and Club, £3,011; Haughton Badminton Club, Darlington, £3,858; Hartlepool Rovers Junior Section, £4,900; Friends of Summerhill, Hartlepool, £4,900; Stranton Road Residents' Association, Hartlepool, £2,998; 17th Hartlepool Scouts, £3,557; Friends of Ward Jackson Park, Hartlepool, £4,958.

Community Croquet Middlesbrough, £532; Guisborough Westgate Junior Badminton Club, £3,825; 1st Guisborough Scout Group, £1,200; Norton Basketball Club, £1,589; 24th West Middlesbrough Scout Group, £1,995; Teesside Attention Defect Hyperactivity Parents' Support Group, £2,833.

Redbrook Primary School, Roseworth, Stockton, £3,242; Stockton Parent Support, £3,600; Glebe Primary School, £3,695; Whitehouse Primary School, Stockton, £4,135; Hardwick Primary School, Sedgefield, £4,731; Tees Valley Cougars Youth, Middlesbrough, £4,905; Albany Community Association, £4,937; Roseworth Primary School, Stockton, £5,000.

Awards in County Durham

West Pelton Nursery, £4,112; Durham Light Infantry, Consett and Stanley Branch, £3,830; Ushaw Moor Community Association, £5,000; Durham County Scout Fellowship, £1,953; Durham City Youth Project, £4,760; New Thornley, Easington, £765.

South Hetton and District Community Association, £1,040; Age Concern Thornley, £2,504; Easington Colliery Welfare Association, £2,700; Trimdon Station Residents' Association, £3,950; Thornley Young People's Project, £4,323; Council of Voluntary Service for Easington District, £4,429; Wheatley Hill Community Association, £5,000; Sedgefield Development Partnership, £4,000.

Trimdon's Little Tykes, £4,760; Staindrop Comprehensive School, £3,310; Teesdale School, £1,670; Friends of Bowes School, £2,500; Cockfield Primary School, £3,924; Bishop Auckland St Mary's Junior FC, £1,161; Helmington Row and Wheatbottom Community Action Group, £3,472