THE Trowbridge Area Festival of Fun was the top beneficiary as five west Wiltshire groups scoop almost £17,000 of lottery cash.

The summer event has picked up a £5,000 grant to support its work in teaching practical skills to youngsters aged 13 to 19 from the Awards for All programme.

Trowbridge Carnival Comm-ittee members are also celebrating after receiving £4,000 to run courses encouraging community involvement in the event.

Pensioners at the town's Springtime Luncheon Club netted £2,400 to fund extra trips, kitchen equipment and advertising.

Treasurer Christine York was set to break the good news to the group's 46 members yesterday.

She said: "When I took over as treasurer last year we were running a bit tight with cash. It was too late to apply for grants then so we had to be very careful.

"We need to let people know that we are here so the advertising money will be vital. Now I'm starting to sort trips for the rest of the year."

Warminster Sequence Dance Club will get £2,800 for new music equipment and transport costs.

Honorary secretary Barbara Parry said: "With the rising costs from the town council for hiring the Assembly Hall, this money will really help us. We had to keep it quiet beforehand because we didn't want to raise people's hopes, but they were all celebrating when I told them."

Horningsham Primary School, near Warminster, will receive £2,552 to buy gymnastic equipment for an after-school club.