A school in Southend has won the lion's share of National Lottery cash for extra-curricular activities across the eastern region.

The Prittlewell School gained £49,528 to boost its out-of-hours learning projects when only £60,902 was handed out across several counties. including Essex.

Another £61,200 has gone to Southend Council for childcare schemes offering 96 places to youngsters aged four to 14. The money - totalling £110,728 for schemes in Southend - has come from the New Opportunities Fund.

Essex County Council gained £166,271 for 369 out-of-hours childcare places with breakfast clubs, after-school projects and holiday schemes.

The money for the Prittlewell School, Westcliff, will help expand its out-of-hours learning projects to include a study support group, breakfast club, basketball training and help set up choir and music ensembles.

Ann Clarke, student attainment and development co-ordinator at the school, said: "Our school has a motto - dignity, potential, community - and this grant will help us achieve this for all our pupils, particularly ones from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"We noticed a positive difference in motivation and social skills in the pupils who attended the pilot breakfast club."

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