MORE than £3.4 million of National Lottery funding was awarded across Purbeck last year, latest figures show.

Thirteen lottery grants were given out in the district during 2016, including £938,000 at Durlston Country Park, £4,000 for a viewing mound at Lytchett Bay View, and £4,000 for the Swanage Jazz Festival.

All three of these projects, or any other to have ever received National Lottery awards, are now eligible for the National Lottery Awards 2017 - the annual search for the UK's favourite National Lottery-funded projects.

Winners receive a £3,000 cash prize and a national recognition at a ceremony to be broadcast on BBC One later this year.

National Lottery Awards show presenter John Barrowman said: "The awards are a fabulous celebration of the UK's favourite lottery-funded projects as voted for by the public.

"The awards rightly put the focus on ordinary people doing extraordinary things with National Lottery funding, whose efforts go such a long way and are indeed changing lives.

"National Lottery players can be very proud to have contributed towards their fine work."

The nomination deadline for entries is midnight on April 7.

Call 0207 293 3329 for further details.