FOUR groups are celebrating after being given grants totalling more than £17,000.

The cash was dished out by Tendring’s Big Society Fund, set up by the district council in 2011.

Elmstead Grasshoppers Cricket Club received the biggest amount in the latest wave of grants after being awarded £10,000.

It will go towards new practice nets costing £22,500.

Alresford Village Hall has been given £5,000 – on top of the £10,000 it received from the big society fund earlier this year.

The extra cash was given after a separate funding bid failed.

The Manningtree-based Grand Theatre of Lemmings group has been given £1,056, which will be used to buy new equipment to develop theatre skills in youngsters.

A grant of £1,420 also went to Great Bentley Scouts to help leaders secure their site where it borders a main road.

So far Tendring’s Big Society Fund has awarded £197,196 to 23 projects across the district in 2014/15.