More than £60 million of National Lottery funding has been invested in Allerdale since the millionaire-making scheme began almost 25 years ago, new figures have shown.

More than 970 National Lottery grants have been awarded in the area since 1994, supporting communities, sports teams, environmental projects and creative endeavours, and helping to look after elderly people and those at risk.

The largest ever National Lottery grant awarded in Allerdale was £4.6 million to Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake.

Opened in 1999, it was the last theatre to be built in Britain in the old millennium and the first to be built with the help of funding from The National Lottery.

The first National Lottery grant in the borough was £110,697 to the Kirkgate Centre Trust which used the funding to turn a former school in Cockermouth into an arts centre.

However, most National Lottery grants are for £10,000 or less. For example, in 2018, £5,217 was awarded to Wigton’s Fellview Primary School to revamp its playground.

From today, any organisation that has received National Lottery funding can enter the 25th Birthday National Lottery Awards, a scheme searching for the UK's favourite National Lottery funded projects.

Winners will receive £10,000 and national recognition at a ceremony to be broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

Jonathan Tuchner from The National Lottery said: "Since its launch 25 years ago, The National Lottery has helped changed lives across the UK.

"This tremendous work would not be possible without those who play The National Lottery and those who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding.

"They are transforming their community every day of the week and if you know of one that deserves recognition then please nominate them for a National Lottery Award.

"I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the next 25 years."

To enter your favourite project in the awards, complete an entry form at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.

Entries must be received by midnight on April 30.