DOZENS of projects designed to improve the health and well-being of people in the region have got the go-ahead after a massive £5.6m injection of lottery cash.

From teaching belly-dancing to tackling teenage pregnancy with robot babies the overall package from the New Opportunities Fund is targeted at less-well off and relatively deprived communities.

There will be an emphasis on healthy eating, exercise for all and projects for groups who often miss out.

The fund was set up to channel National Lottery funds into good causes, including a wide range of activities organised by so-called Healthy Living Centres.

The new allocation is just the latest chunk of lottery cash to be invested in the region.

So far a total of £23.7m has been ploughed into health, education and environment projects in the North-East.

Sunderland is the biggest winner with a massive £3m allocated to schemes across the city and North Washington.

Professional belly-dancer Vivienne Lee-Smith, who will be working with women in Sunderland to improve their fitness, demonstrated her dancing skills in front of VIPS at the NOF launch ceremony on Wearside.

Two projects in Newcastle, targeting deprived areas in the city's west and east ends, have received £2m.

And Prime Minister Tony Blair's own constituency has received £640,000 for a variety of projects, including healthy lifestyles courses, community allotment schemes and training school children to educate their classmates about harmful drug or alcohol abuse.

Mr Blair said: "I am delighted that the application for a Health Living Centre in Sedgefield has been successful, and that the National Lottery, through the New Opportunities Fund, is funding a project which will help the people of my constituency develop new approaches to improving their health and well-being."

Some of the most innovative schemes include:

Using robot babies to give 11-16 year olds an insight into what it is like to have a baby. Teaching young men at risk of poor health to take part in basketball, DJ-ing and graffiti art.

Setting up a food co-op, healthy eating caf and healthy food delivery service. Aromatherapy baby message to help calm restless babies and complementary therapies for older people and those on low incomes.