A LUNCH club has been able to spread its wings a little further thanks to a cash windfall.

The club, which meets every week at The Green Centre, in Dines Green, has received £200 from the Making a Difference campaign run by the Evening News and Worcester Round Table.

The 20 members, who are all ladies in their 70s and 80s, will use the cash to fund day trips a little further afield than they have previously travelled, due to a cash shortage.

"We've only ever been able to go about 25 miles, to keep within the funds we had," said Doris Hunt, the lunch club co-ordinator, who wrote to the Making a Difference campaign asking for the donation.

"We have had four new members join which means we are unable to use our usual minibus, which costs us £40 to £45 each trip. I have rung everywhere but the cheapest cost to hire a 20-seater bus was £189.

"Before now, I have even taken some of the members in my own car when there were too many of us for the minibus."

The club holds a raffle every Monday to raise funds for the trips, which have included Wyevale Garden Centre, Hereford, and the Black Country Museum, Dudley. Members take it in turns to donate the raffle prize.

The club also visits craft centres and historic market towns, such as Shipston, near Moreton-in-the-Marsh, for shopping trips.

Bingo sessions are also held at the club, which was established in 1984 and meets every Monday and Thursday.

"We might put the money from the Making a Difference campaign towards a better trip next summer," said Mrs Hunt.

"Everyone is really thrilled - they all read the letter telling us we had the cash. We've got a really good club going."

The Making a Difference campaign redistributes funds raised by Worcester Round Table volunteers at its annual bonfire and fireworks display, in November, and the selling of hot roasted chestnuts, at the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre.

Members want to give the cash back to clubs and community groups in the Worcester area to "really make a difference".