HOLMES Chapel MP Fiona Bruce is urging her constituents to apply for National Lottery money put aside to mark the centenary of the First World War.

Grants between £3,000 and £10,000 are currently available through Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘First World War: then and now’ programme, which is enabling people to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage.

Groups that need a grant exceeding £10,000 for a project can apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its open programmes.

Mrs Bruce said: “I have already seen some wonderful exhibitions and events to mark the centenary of the First World War, such as the superb Holmes Chapel exhibition with a serving solider in The Great War from the Holmes Chapel area, the re-dedication of the Alsager War Memorial and the wonderful evening of poetry and acting at the Daneside Theatre in Congleton which I was privileged to take part in.

“However, it needn’t stop here. There is still money to be obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund for local projects to celebrate the centenary of the First World War and I encourage anyone in my constituency with an idea for their own project to get in touch with HLF. I would be pleased to support any such project personally.”

For more information on how to apply for HLF funding, visit hlf.org.uk.