COMMUNITY organisations across County Durham are celebrating after getting grants totalling £85,355 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme.

The money is going to 24 small groups in Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Durham, Easington, Sedgefield, Teesdale, and Wear Valley.

Senior awards officer for the regional programme, Pat Lowes, said: "We are very pleased that groups who have never received Lottery funding before, are now applying to Awards for All and successfully getting the money that they need to extend the work of their group.''

The Special Needs Unity Group (Snug) at Annfield Plain, near Stanley, is receiving £4,850 and is one of nine groups in Derwentside to share in a total pay-out of £35,604.

The group works to integrate people with learning difficulties, through drama, and has won praise for productions staged at the Edinburgh Festival.

The group will use its grant to restage the Morrison Busty sports day, an annual event held for workers at Morrison Busty pit and their families.

Carers Support, which gives assistance to carers in Consett, Stanley and surrounding villages, is getting £4,869 to stage a conference about respite breaks and hold a "stress-free'' day for carers.

In the Durham area, the Durham Christian Partnership is getting £4,825 for a feasibility study for a listening and befriending service.

Coxhoe Community Partnership, which runs a play area and provides activities for youngsters, is getting £1,232 to stage a community celebration event.

Three groups in Easington are sharing £11,913, including Wingate Women's Institute, which is getting £5,000 - the maximum award - to furnish a room in the community centre.

Sedgefield Community College is getting £1,777 for table tennis clubs, and Tudhoe Young People's Group will use its £2,210 to fund workshops and outings for youngsters.

Among the recipients in Teesdale, is the 1st Barnard Castle Scouts, which will use its £5,000 award on fixtures and fitting for their building.

In Wear Valley, the West Auckland Memorial Community Association is getting £4,993 for a feasibility study on developing the village hall.

The Sunnybrow Residents Association is getting £3,100 for workshops with an artist that will create a village feature.