MEMBERS of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods in Darwen are celebrating after receiving a grant of £3,250 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme.

The grant will allow the group to carry out the restoration of the drinking fountain in the woods as part of its programme directed at restoring heritage items.

Group chairman Dennis Gillibrand, 67, said: "We are thrilled to get this award. For a group like ours this is a large sum of money and will be appreciated by many local people.

"We have worked hard to develop the project and the application --now we want people to enjoy the progress the group is making in this centenary year of Sunnyhurst Woods."

Plans to breathe new life into the woods have been hailed a great success since the group set up last January. The group has 110 members and 21 committee members who are all dedicated to the ensuring the well-being and upkeep of the 85-acre wooded valley. Footpaths and trails lead from the woods onto Darwen Moors and there is also a wildlife trail through the wood.

Last year the group raised £8,000 to improve the woods. Mr Gillibrand said he was delighted with items on the group's 'wish list' which were carried out last year, such as improvements to paths in the woods, which were becoming impassable, as well as the success of the summer gala - which attracted some 2,500 people. He added the group had been supported in its work by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The park's drinking fountain was given to the people of Darwen in 1907 by the Lightbown family of Darwen. Situated across from the visitors' centre the stone fountain used to have a pewter cup and a chain to enable people to drink from it.

Mr Gillibrand said the fountain had not been in use since the 1980's and although its base was still there, its upright spire had disappeared. Mr Gillibrand found the 'lost' part of the fountain in the visitors' centre. He added the group was restoring the fountain as an historical monument and it wouldn't actually be a working drinking fountain. Restoration work is to be carried out by W Monks (Longridge) and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

The group welcomes new members and holds regular meetings, if anyone would like to join they should contact Mr Gillibrand on 01254 723504.