THREE Warrington groups are celebrating a National Lottery windfall of almost £407,000.

Birchwood Youth Association has received a massive £246,398, Warrington Volunteer Bureau has received a three-year grant of £159,349 and Old Hall Pre School was given £1,000.

Birchwood's cash will be spent on a new youth club for the area, replacing the existing building at Delenty Drive. The grant is the result of months of hard work and everyone is delighted with the Charities Board's decision.

Chairman of Birchwood Youth Association Bill Thompson said: "We are delighted with the grant, this centre is really needed in this area.

"There are very few community-use buildings in Birchwood and we want to get as many groups using the centre as possible."

Youth worker Gerry Allen said: "It's very good news.

"The current building is literally falling down around our ears. The youth club will be closed for three to four months while the work takes place, but we hope to carry on outreach work on the streets and use a minibus to take the young people out on trips."

Ward councillor Pauline Nelson said: "It's wonderful, I am very pleased.

"It just shows what you can do when you work together."

The current youth club building started off life as a builder's site hut at Oakwood Gate, but Birchwood Youth Association paid to have it moved to Delenty Drive around 15 years ago. The new bigger building will mean the services on offer can be extended to benefit more people.

"The new building will be used by the whole community," said Clr Nelson, "but its use as a youth club takes precedence."

Warrington Volunteer Bureau will spend its cash developing the work of the bureau, encouraging more volunteers, increasing their skills and confidence, and providing information.

Manager Christine Jones said: "We are thrilled and a bit stunned to have the prospect of three years' funding at the level we need.

"Now we can have the staffing level to help provide the really good service we know we are capable of to benefit volunteers and community life in Warrington. We aim to help people find a kind of volunteering that is rewarding and enjoyable as well as being of real benefit to the community."

Old Hall Pre School's grant will be used to provide play equipment and educational facilities.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.