THREE Bromsgrove charities have received a much-needed Christmas present thanks to a generous foundation.

Age Concern Bromsgrove and District, Charford's Multi Agency Resource Centre and Bromsgrove Bereavement Counselling Service are among more than 100 charities in the West Midlands to share a total of £486,889 in the final round of grants from the Lloyds TSB Foundation this year.

Windsor Street-based Age Concern has been awarded £7,000 towards its running costs and the resource centre, in Humphrey Avenue, received £3,000 for flooring and equipment.

Stourbridge-based Bromsgrove Bereavement Counselling Service, which serves people in the town, was awarded £2,500 to cover travelling costs.

A Multi Agency Resource Centre spokesman said: "We are really pleased.

"It is a great help and will make an enormous difference."

The four Lloyds TSB Foundations, including the one for England and Wales, receive one per cent of the banking group's profits, averaged over three years.

In 2000, the foundations received £31.3m to distribute to registered charities.

The foundations' West Midlands regional co-ordinator Karen Argyle said: "Grants allocated by the foundation will make a genuine difference to voluntary groups throughout the West Midlands.

"I hope this funding will enable local charities to make a real difference to the lives of people in the area."