GRASSROOTS projects across east Durham were yesterday lining up for a share of an £8.6m windfall.

Community centres and sports halls will be rebuilt, recreation areas created and learning opportunities provided under the handout from national charity the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

The funding was announced yesterday by the trust, which provides support to the coalfield communities where improvements in communal facilities, employment skills and training opportunities are most needed.

Since it was established in 1999, more than £90m has been awarded to 1,550 voluntary and community projects which have improved the quality of life in England's former coalfield regions.

A total of £2m will come to the North-East with the lion's share going to former mining communities in east Durham.

The trust's representatives are this week attending the Labour Party conference to raise awareness of its involvement in coalfield regeneration.

Trust chairman the Right Reverend Alan Morgan said: "The projects selected to receive grants in the trust's latest round of funding illustrate the wealth of regeneration activity being undertaken by community groups across England's former coalfield areas.

"Everything is represented from large capital projects such as the renovation and rebuilding of community centres to smaller grants to buy IT or specialist equipment for groups working hard to support families."

Nationally, £2.5m will go to the North-West, with a further £1.6m to the Yorkshire area, £1.5m to the East Midlands and nearly £1m to the West Midlands.

News of the windfall was warmly welcomed in the District of Easington.

The council's head of regeneration Peter Coe said: "We welcome the continued investment by the Coalfield Regeneration Trust in community based organisations throughout the district.

"These grants are vital to the whole regeneration of the district and we look forward to continuing working with the trust in addressing community issues in the District of Easington in the future."