SIX local charities are celebrating after landing more than £450,000 between them from the National Lottery Charities Board.

The highest grant in St Helens was £121,841, which goes to St Helens Opportunity for Play (SHOP). Based in Parr they are hoping to use part of the money to fund a move to larger premises in the former Carr Mill Community Centre and treasurer, Ken Derbyshire said: "We are over the moon. We have been struggling financially for a while now and this is as if someone has switched a light on for us."

SHOP is a resource centre which offers a range of children's play equipment and tools and the money will also be used to pay for four workers' salaries.

Another charity to benefit was the Billinge Youth and Community Enterprise Project (BYCEP) who received £103,169. These are a group of volunteers who came together a number of years ago in a bid to provide more facilities and activities for young people living in the Billinge area. They hope to use the three year grant to pay for new equipment, salaries and running costs for the upkeep of a new youth and community facility.

OTHER charities to benefit are Home Start St Helens (£68,290); Newton Boys and Girls Club (£62,985); Newton-le-Willows Family and Community Association (£62,339); and the Trees Estate Tenants and Residents Association in Newton (£40,000).

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