CLUBS in north Essex have picked up early Christmas presents worth more than £90,000.

A total of 26 voluntary and community groups in Tendring and Colchester have received cash in the latest round of Essex Community Foundation Grassroots Grants.

The payouts range from £300 to provide a village hall PA system to £5,000 to fund cricket coaching for under-tens.

More than £500,000 has been distributed to 133 voluntary and community groups in Essex through the Grassroots Grants programme since it was launched in August.

The initiative, which is funded by the Government’s Office of the Third Sector, is open to voluntary and community groups with an income of under £20,000 a year.

For more information, call 01245 356018.