COMMUNITY links will be cemented thanks to lovely Lottery lolly.

Hard-working Shakerley estate leaders missed out on the chance of City and Coalfield Challenge grants because of their location. So they applied for a £30,000 Lottery grant and were rewarded with a £27,400 cheque which took them over their target thanks to a Children in Need cheque for £2,000-plus.

Evelyn Smith, one of the four NVQ level 3 and 4 playworkers who run the playgroup and after school club at the community centre, told The Journal:"We're delighted. The money will be used to link the Community Centre with the recently acquired old chip shop building. We'll extend the kitchen and create an IT area.

"We must be good at filling in application forms!"

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