LAVATORIES, fishing rods, dining room furniture and even a water heater have all been paid for by a charitable scheme.

So far this year the Making a Difference campaign - run by the Evening News and Worcester Round Table - has given away £3,000 to community clubs and groups but there is still £7,000 to give away.

The cash is intended to "really make a difference" to community groups and can be used for whatever the club considers to be a pressing need.

In March, the Making a Difference campaign gave the Heenan & Froude Social Club, in Worcester, £300 to upgrade its dilapidated toilet facilities.

And in February, the Nora Parsons Day Centre, in Wichenford, near Worcester, benefited from a cash gift of £200 to pay for a much-needed water heater so cups and saucers can be washed without having to boil the kettle!

Meanwhile, in January, the Hooked Junior Fishing Club received £250 to buy new rods, and the YMCA, in Henwick Road, Worcester, received £400 to buy new dining room furniture.

The money comes from the fund-raising efforts of the Round Table volunteers, including the annual bonfire and fireworks display each November, on Worcester Racecourse, and the selling of hot roasted chestnuts at the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre, in Worcester.

"What is so great about the campaign is that a couple of hundred pounds can really make a difference to these clubs and groups," said Nick Close, from Worcester Round Table.

To apply for your slice of the cash, fill out the coupon at the top of this page and on a separate piece of paper clearly print or type exactly what the money will be used for and how much is being requested.

Post to Sarah Taylor, Promotions Department, Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester WR2 5JX.