Charities are celebrating early Christmas presents after being awarded thousands of pounds of lottery cash.

The Colchester Eating Disorders Support Centre, which serves the Clacton area too, learned on Wednesday it had been successful in its bid for £129,238 from the National Lottery Charities Board while the Shrub End Social Centre, Colchester, has received £18,467.

Essex Voluntary Association for the Blind, which is based in Chelmsford and has a home in Frinton, was also celebrating with a grant of £170,557 to develop support and information services.

Paull Bidewell, development manager for the eating disorders support centre, said the news of the grant had still to sink in.

The three-year award will pay for a full-time development worker, freelance therapists, equipment and running costs at the centre's Queen Street base.

Mr Bidewell said: "We are a new charity which is only three years old. This grant will just mean so much to the staff and sufferers here."

The Shrub End Social Centre will use its cash for refurbishment including new toilets, replacement windows and for the hall and kitchen to be decorated.

A wide array of groups use the hall from the over-60s and a playgroup to a lace-making group and religious organisations. It is hoped building work will start at the beginning of next year.

The grant to the Essex Voluntary Association for the Blind will be spread over three years. It will pay salaries for three development workers and project running costs, with the first worker being based at Read House, The Esplanade, Frinton.

The £2.3 million home was officially opened in January.

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