OUTDOOR theatre and dance classes are just two projects to benefit from a £69,700 cash boost.

Grants have been awarded to 10 groups - including children's arts activities, puppet theatre and music - by Worcestershire County Council's arts and events team.

Huntingdon Hall, CrownGate, Worcester, has been awarded £7,000 to continue to develop its programme of high quality music, and Huntingdon Arts has received £15,000 revenue funding to support the development of The Swan Theatre.

"I'd like to say we are grateful for the continued support of the county council," said Esther Blaine, assistant director of Huntingdon Arts.

"The money will go towards the running of the venues.

"It's a great opportunity to enable Huntingdon Hall to keep producing a programme of live music, comedy and spoken words.

"We aim to keep bringing as many different types of new and exciting music to the people of Worcestershire."

Other projects to benefit from the arts grants are Worcester Festival, which has been awarded £1,000 to support a programme of children's arts activities as part of the new Worcester Festival, and Malvern Theatres, which has been given £9,000 to support the education and outreach work of the theatre with young people across the county.

Worcester Arts Shop has been given a cash boost of £5,500 to deliver a programme of participatory community arts, and the English Symphony Orchestra, based in Malvern, has been given £3,000 to fund an initiative to attract new audiences to its work.

"I'm delighted to see the variety of the projects," said councillor Stephen Clee, the council's assistant cabinet member for cultural and community services.

"Classical music, arts for teenagers, puppetry and theatre are just some of the ideas that we're helping to fund.

"The benefits of the grants will be shared by everyone in the county, as our arts and events play an important role in our quality of life."