ONE of Swindon's most deprived areas has won a £818,000 National Lottery payout.

The neighbouring wards of Penhill and Pinehurst are to benefit from the cash, which has been awarded under the New Opportunities Fair Share Fund.

Over the next 10 years Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation will administer the money.

It will be spent on projects aimed at enhancing the community and environment and anyone can apply a grant.

Delighted ward councillor John Archer (Lab) said: "I'm over the moon, for Penhill particularly it has been suffering for a long time and now at last it has got something.

"There are so many things needed in Penhill this money could be spent on open spaces, parks, community centres and computers.

"It's all community driven and up there they have got one of the finest communities of anywhere in Swin-don."

The grant was applied for by the recently-formed Swindon Local Strategic Partnership Board a committee of council and local business leaders.

Coun Archer said: "Social problems are the main thing in Penhill the area has had nothing for many years.

"It was designed in the 1940s and built in the 1950s and that was it.

"This grant is a good shot in the arm for the place which has been needed up there for years.

"Everybody thinks that only bad news comes out of Penhill but that's just not true it is just a deprived area.

"The people up there are fantastic they are a real community."

No concrete plans have yet been made about how the money will be spent.

Anyone wishing to find out more about applying for a grant can contact Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation on 01380 729284.

n How do you think the money should be spent? Write to us at 100 Victoria Road, Swindon SN1 3BE or e-mail editor@newswilts.co.uk.

www.wscf.org.uk