GROUPS in Wiltshire enjoyed a share of a £550,000 cash bonanza in the latest round of lottery grants.

Nine groups, eight from west Wiltshire and one from north Wiltshire, received thousands of pounds worth of funding through the Awards for All scheme.

The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, Crockerton Primary School, Parsons Nose Football Club, Southwick Primary School, Warminster branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Wessex and Bath Athletic Club, West Wilts Special Needs Activity Centre, Mill Race Centre and the Wiltshire branch of the Normandy Veterans Society all received cash.

Parsons Nose chairman Richard Grieshaber said the money would cover the costs of new changing rooms.

He said: "We didn't play a couple of games last season and we nearly got suspended from the league because we had no changing facilities."

The football club has just been promoted to the third division of the Chippenham and District Sunday league and the grant has given the team a morale boost just before the kick off to their new campaign.

"Now we can build on the future," said Mr Grieshaber.

Thanks to a £5,000 award, more Normandy veterans will be able to travel to France next year for the 60th anniversary of D-Day.

Secretary Burt Williams, of the Wiltshire branch of the Normandy Veterans Association, said 56 people would make the trip.

"We applied for the grant but didn't hold out much hope. We were quite surprised when we heard how much we got."

The Warminster branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society received £5,000 to help buy electric wheelchairs.

Chairman Margaret Purkiss said: "We are delighted

and will have no trouble spending it. Just one chair costs £7,000."

More than £550,000 has been distributed to voluntary and community groups through the Awards for All scheme which brings together the major lottery distributors, Arts Council England, Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, New Opportunities Fund and Sport England.