A project to carry out essential repairs to the Netherbury Reading Room building has been awarded £10,000 of National Lottery funding.

The award, announced today, is one of 83 schemes in the south-west to benefit from Big Lottery Fund grants totalling £667,214.

The funds will go towards improving the group's facilities and enable them to provide a wider range of activities and events for the local community.

The money is awarded under the Fund’s Award for All programme which gives small grants of up to £10,000 to projects that can make a big difference to people’s lives.

Helen Bullough, Big Lottery Fund spokeswoman, said: “Awards for All funding helps people of all ages in so many ways. Each round of awards touches the lives of hundreds of communities in ways that benefit thousands of people.

“All kinds of projects to enhance and improve lives can be brought to life with help from the Big Lottery Fund.

“Anyone who has an idea for a community project should visit awardsforall.org.uk to see if a Big Lottery Fund grant could help to get their own idea off the ground. It could make a huge difference to the health, happiness and wellbeing of so many people.”

Community or not-for-profit groups parish or town councils, health bodies or schools can apply for grants ranging from £300 to £10,000 to fund a specific project or activity.