GROUPS from the Alcester area are celebrating after receiving substantial cash windfalls from the National Lottery.

Community projects across South Warwickshire have been awarded more than £56,000 in the third round of the lottery's Awards for All scheme.

Thanks to the scheme, Alcester University of the Third Age (U3A), an educational group for people over 60, has been given £4,691 to provide computer equipment, a printer, a projector and microphones for training purposes.

Alcester Junior Drama and Youth Theatre has been awarded £1,170 to provide "open for all" theatre workshops.

The grant will pay for workshops, subsidised RSC backstage tour music and microphone systems, video camera and a monitor.

A grant of £5,000 has also been awarded to Haselor School to enable pupils to participate in a range of workshops reflecting the cultural diversity of Britain.

The money will go towards marketing, artists' fees, technical support, venue hire, festival and exhibition costs.

Haselor headteacher Sine Wyatt said: "We are absolutely delighted we have received this money.

"This will involve a cluster group of schools - Haselor, Coughton, Dunnington and Bidford.

"Some of the money will be spent hiring the professional artists who will be carrying out workshops with the children and some will be spent on hiring a hall as we have no school hall.

"On Thursday, July 12, and the following evening, there will be a massive production of everything the children have been learning about featuring lively music, movement and costume."