A NEW city lottery designed to benefit local charities and good causes has been launched this week.

The Worcester Community Lottery gives players the chance to sign up to a weekly draw and to specify which causes they want to benefit from their subscription.

Tickets have gone on sale today (Tuesday, March 26) ahead of the first draw on Saturday, April 27. They cost £1 each, with 60p going to good causes and the rest going to the prize fund and covering admin costs and VAT. The top prize is £25,000 each week.

More than 30 good causes have already signed up for the lottery, including Worcester Community Action, Maggs Day Centre and and St Paul's Hostel.

When players sign up for a subscription, they will have the chance to choose which of the causes they will support.

The first to sign up was Crossroads Caring for Carers. Care manager Helen Simmonds said: "Crossroads Caring for Carers is here to improve the lives of carers by giving them a break from caring.

"Worcester Community Lottery is a great way of encouraging support for the important work that we do for city carers. We're supporting it in every way we can and are hoping it will prove a big success."

Graham Heath, manager of community transport charity Worcester Wheels, said: "We are delighted to be participating in the lottery.

"We are reliant on the generosity and support of the community and this initiative provides a great opportunity for local people to support us and other good causes working for the community."