STAFF at Lyndhurst Community Centre were celebrating on Saturday after receiving a major Awards For All National Lottery grant to help widen its appeal to youngsters.

A cheque for £4,320 was handed over by Roland Davies of Awards For All to enable the centre to purchase four new table tennis tables, bats, balls, dividers and the services of a professional coach for 40 weeks.

The aim is to attract both young and older people to take up the sport.

"We want to get more young people using the centre," said manager John Charlesworth.

The ceremony coincided with a fun day, supported by the community club for older people, profits from which will go towards refurbishment of the centre.

The cheque was handed over by Roland Davies to community association chairman Anne Butcher.

It's hoped that the table tennis facility will be up and running in September.

Mr Davies said any organisation involved with sport, schools, the disabled, the elderly, community groups or conservation was being actively encouraged to apply for an Awards For All grant.