SOCCER stars of the future are to benefit from a coaching programme, which is to be launched in Bromsgrove, thanks to a generous lottery grant.

Belbroughton First School has netted £4,156 from the New Opportunities Fund, which will help to set up a football coaching scheme for youngsters.

Headteacher Joan Holford said: "We are delighted to have been allocated this grant.

"The money will be used to provide football coaching during and after school for boys and girls - we have some very good girl footballers."

The Bradford Lane school was one of five organisations in Bromsgrove to benefit from the lottery handout totalling more than £19,000.

Other grants allocated to town groups include:

l Amateur dramatics group, the Fairbourne Dodders who have received £5,000 to pay for new curtains, sound and lighting equipment.

l Hunters Hill Special School, in Spirehouse Lane, will receive £4,485 to help pay for a new basketball coaching scheme. It will provide equipment, training materials and coaching.

l Barnt Green Sailing Club has received £3,753 to provide equipment, including a new inflatable rescue boat.

l Upton Warren Sailing Club, which is based at the centre in Wychbold, just off the A38, will receive £1,700 for two new powerboats

l A grant for £4,068 has gone to Chaddesley Corbett Football Club to provide new facilities for members.

Schemes across the West Midlands were allocated more than a million pounds-worth of grants by the New Opportunities Fund.