GROUPS across west Wiltshire are celebrating the award of thousands of pounds of lottery cash to help with community projects.

The Awards for All Lottery funding programme gives grants of between £500 and £5,000 to groups which have an impact on their local community.

Groups receiving the top grant of £5,000 include Trowbridge Annual Festival of Fun, a summer sports programme run by the town council for young people.

Trowbridge Town Council also gets £5,000 for its Golden Jubilee celebrations while Trowbridge Town Youth Council has been given £4,800 to stage a beach party and live music event in August. The event will give young bands the chance to play.

Trowbridge sports and community development officer Steve Nash said: "The lottery money means the events will be even better.

"For many community groups it is essential they get support from the lottery or other organisations.

"We have been successful in Trowbridge recently with our applications. It all helps."

Studley Green Tenants and Residents Association has been granted £5,000 to pay for its contribution to a play area in Manor Road. The scheme is also relying on contributions from West Wiltshire District Council, West Wiltshire Housing Society and Trowbridge Town Council.

Splitz Parenting Alone Support Services has been awarded £3,000 to boost its work providing support and help for single parents.

The money will be used to provide art workshops and trips to museums to help boost the self esteem of the single parents it helps, who are mostly under 25.

Splitz development worker Fran Lewis said: "It is about building self esteem and confidence and making people feel special.

"As an organisation we care about the people and want to help the families feel precious. It is tough for them."

Bratton Jubilee Hall Management Committee was awarded £5,000 in the latest round of lottery grants.

It will use the money to install a skittle alley, disabled facilities and room screens, as well as some jubilee activities.

Other successful west Wiltshire groups were Chitterne Cricket Club which gets £1,668 for a net and equipment, Atworth Youth Club which will run basketball and football coaching sessions with a £1,557 grant and Bitham Brook Primary School where £680 will be used to set up an after school volley ball club.