A lottery cash boost to improve the Tyrells Centre in Benfleet - which helps elderly people - is being celebrated by staff and supporters.

Managers applied for a National Lottery grant so improvements could be made in the areas surrounding the building in Seamore Avenue.

Celebrating the windfall - Tyrells manager Jerry Moore and Lisa Hawker Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Today the bosses told of their joy after learning they would have £4,300 from Castle Point Assocation of Voluntary Services to spend.

Project leader Lisa Hawker, the council's acting arts development officer, said: "This is great news. "We are all extremely happy with the amount we received and it will be spent on making art work to brighten up the centre and make it more welcoming."

In revamping the centre, Lisa has worked with children from the Glenwood Special School, Montgomerie Infant and Junior schools and Seevic college.

Lisa added: "Many of the day care clients at The Tyrells, which acts as a resource centre for older people, have an obvious love of gardening but find that through age or illness they are physically restricted from this activity.

"Some of the latest funding will pay for raised planters that will make access easier and enable them to be maintained by the centre users."

Published Friday, February 7, 2003

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