LEIGH authors may have more of a chance of seeing their work in print, thanks to a National Lottery win.

A Wigan project is one of 22 to receive a share of more than half a million pounds handed out in the latest round of the Regional Arts Lottery Programme.

The Towpath Community Press has been awarded £5,671 to help support creative talent by enabling authors resident in the Metro to be published.

The cash will be used to buy a computer and for training.

The scheme is run by the community publishing co-operative, which has members from Leigh and Atherton.

They have published work by the secretary of Leigh Writers' Circle, Hazel Wellings, who has a book of poetry, Shadows, on sale in Chamleys.

Towpath spokesman Gillian Forrester said: "The award will help us enormously. We have a queue of people waiting for their work to be published."

Groups interested in applying for the Regional Arts Lottery Programme should contact Rachel Williams on 0161 827 9233.