NINE charitable or community groups in and around Malvern have benefited from the latest round of grants from Malvern Lions Club.

Following a call for applications in the Malvern Gazette, the club received 19 requests for money. And this week, the Lions announced who the lucky winners were.

Among them is Malvern Hills Volunteering, set up last year to replace Volunteer Centre Malvern, which folded due to lack of funding.

The new group has been granted £250 towards the cost of a laptop computer to run the organisation.

Richard West of the group said: "This grant is a real kick-start for us, which will help the organisation become sustainable in the long term."

Also given £250 was Colwall Village Garden, which wants to set up a community garden and allotments. The money will be used to buy an old tractor as a centrepiece for the garden's playground.

Helen Stace of the project said: "It was suggested by several of the children when we held a consultation on what they wanted for the playground. We're very grateful to the Lions for their generosity."

Ledbury Community Brass Band were granted £200 to pay for sheet music and music stands, and the Wells and Wyche Pre-school £150 towards the renovation of their garden.

Leigh and Bransford School were given £145 for a new CD player, Worcester Wildlife Rescue £65 to buy folding tables for fundraising events, and Barnardos Evergreen Children's Centre £75 for two gazebos for outdoor activities.

Canoeist Callie Halliday was given £50 towards the cost of travelling to a training camp in France, and the WRVS Evergreen Club £50, which will help fund a seaside trip for the Over 60s Club.