The National Lottery is helping youngsters to get on with their homework after awarding their school almost £40,000.

Oaklands School, in the Acomb area of York, is being given the cash to pay for an expansion of its after-school study centre over the next three years.

It was one of several projects in the region to be awarded a grant from the New Opportunities Fund for out-of-school hours learning.

Oaklands has been running its after-school study centre for the past four years and most recently it has been known as the Extra Club, for 11 to 14-year-olds.

It has involved help with homework and arts-related activities, as well as treats such as trips to football matches and ten-pin bowling.

Teacher Anja Miller, who is the coordinator for the centre, said the Lottery cash, totalling £38,894, would be used to extend the club and open it for three nights a week, instead of just one.

The windfall will allow the centre to cater for all ages, rather than just the first three years, and pay for more staffing.

It will also mean a common room can be converted into a new base for the centre.

The local authority is working on a bid to the New Opportunities Fund to pay for more expansion at other after-school homework clubs and study centres