Northumberland Lottery has celebrated its third birthday.

The lottery has raised £275,200 for numerous good causes across the county.

This annual jackpot is managed by Northumberland County Council and affords much needed monetary assistance to more than 130 community groups currently engaged in the lottery's operations.

A resounding 275,200 tickets have been sold with 60 per cent of each pound generated being injected directly towards the community, as £28,600 has been distributed as cash prizes.

Lottery admission stands at £1 per week, with players having an option to nominate their preferred group to receive a 50p contribution from their ticket, while 10p is allocated to other local collectives through the Community Chest programme.

Community enterprise and training provider for adults with learning disabilities, Border Links, has been involved from the beginning.

Melanie Deans, of Border Links, said: "Thank you to the Northumberland Lottery which every penny helps, it all goes to what the guys are doing with their allotment, planning for trips, whatever it might be.

"Playing the Northumberland Lottery is helping everyone that comes to Border Links."

The scheme, open to all not-for-profit organisations in the area, can generate an annual £500 from just 20 ticket sales per week.

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for Corporate Resources at the County Council, said: "The third anniversary of the Northumberland Lottery is certainly one to be celebrated, having navigated the pandemic where many organisations had to change their way of fundraising.

“The Northumberland Lottery is for communities and is welcomed by community groups across Northumberland.

“It is fantastic to see so many community groups signing up, it’s quick and easy to do and we would urge organisations, not already in the scheme, to join and start raising money today!”

Further details are available on the Northumberland Lottery website.