AN ARTS festival, a bowling club and a carers centre were just some of the worthy causes across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire to share a £2.5million windfall from the National Lottery last year.

Latest figures from Lottery chiefs show that more than 50 grants were made to projects in these areas during 2016.

One of the biggest winners was Renfrewshire Carers Centre, which banked £420,000 to fund a project that provides intensive support early in a new carer’s journey.

A £150,000 grant was awarded to the Renfrew-based Our Place, Our Families project to help provide low-cost family fun days and other activities that bring the community together.

There was also a £10,000 award for Blacklandmill Bowling Club, in Paisley, to help meet the costs of a refurbishment programme, while a grant of almost £5,000 went to organisers of the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival.

In East Renfrewshire, £10,000 was handed to 1st Barrhead Scout group to pay for disabled access toilets, as well as new doors and windows, with the ReUseIt charity getting a similar amount to support its work recycling and reusing furniture.

There was also a £7,800 grant for Barrhead and Neilston Disabled Forum to run a weekly drop-in service for older people and those with disabilities.

And each of these groups could scoop a further £3,000 in the National Lottery’s annual search for the UK’s favourite funded project.

As well as the cash prize, winners will receive a trophy at a glittering ceremony to be shown on the BBC later this year.

John Barrowman, presenter of the National Lottery Awards show, said: “The awards put the focus on ordinary people doing extraordinary things with National Lottery funding, whose efforts go such a long way.”

To nominate a group in Renfrewshire or East Renfrewshire as the UK’s favourite funded scheme, call 0207 293 3329.