PROMISING athlete Samantha Hart has been helped on the road to success with a grant from her local council.

Redcar student Samantha, 18, will use her £80, from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Community Chest fund, to pay for a weekend course in Sussex this month.

The former Rye Hills School pupil is studying sports science at Northumbria University and is aiming for a good result in the 800m at the British University Championships in Birmingham next month.

Also benefiting from the scheme is the Kirkleatham Owl Centre, which has been awarded £918 to pay for a digital computer and projector for its education room.

Centre director Gill Robson said: "Without this help, we wouldn't be able to do a lot of our educational work. We are delighted with their support."

Peter Sotheran, chairman of the West Redcar Community Chest sub-group, said: "The Community Chest has handed out more than £100,000 over the past three-and-a-half years which has gone directly into local community organisations.

"We know that it has helped a wide range of community organisations kickstart their projects and has assisted individuals achieving excellence in their chosen sporting or artistic pursuits."