COMMUNITY groups across the county are celebrating after the latest batch of Lottery handouts.

The Millennium festival awards are worth more than £70,000 to Herefordshire this time around with a wide variety of schemes benefiting.

Among the biggest winners are the Canon Pyon Parish Room Committee, the Wellington Community Association and the Hereford and Worcester Gardens Trust - each given £5,000.

Other major beneficiaries include the Hereford District Scout Council, which will spend £4,998 on new equipment, and the Newton Farm Action Group, which will improve youth skating with £4,988.

Herefordshire Nature Trust will be arranging a 'community celebration' to the tune of £3,200, while Bartestree and Lugwardine Cricket Club will be buying a new bowling machine.

Historical papers will be preserved by the Ross-on-Wye Civic Society and the Bishopswood WI will use their £2,408 to pay for new chairs and games tables.

Millennium event

Another WI - at Bodenham - will be building an oak tree seat worth more than £500 while the Breinton 2000 committee can now organise a Millennium event.

Colwall Cricket Club will be 'improving their amenities' with an award of £811, while cycling in the county is on the up, thanks to a £2,680 handout to the Herefordshire Revolutions Group.

Memories of the last century will be kept for posterity at Abbeydore Village Hall and a children's music workshop will be held by the Borders Marches Early Music Forum.

The Peterchurch Millennium Committee has been given more than £4,000 towards a feasibility study into building a village hall in the village.

Meanwhile, the hall at Bridstow will be refurbished with a grant of £3,171.

Other projects in the money are Eardisland Village Hall Committee, Wigmore Church Committee, Attitude Youth Dance Company, Burghill and Tillington Cricket Club, Ross-on-Wye Volleyball Club and Much Cowarne Parochial Church Council.