WEST Devon children?s groups are this week celebrating after scooping more than £30,000 in the latest round of awards from the National Lottery-funded Playlines Trust.

The money will ensure holiday and before and after-school provision for children in Tavistock and Bere Alston.

The Old School Children?s Centre at Whitchurch has been granted £12,400 by Playlines. The centre already runs an after-school club at Tavistock Primary School ? staff are now hoping to increase provision at the school by introducing a before-school club.

Joe Flynn, headteacher at Tavistock Primary School, said: ?I am delighted at this good news.

?We are very grateful to the Whitchurch group for providing their excellent service on our site and working so closely with us.

?This is all part of wraparound school provision and trying to be a community school, offering what parents and children need ? if there is a need, we will certainly have a go at filling it.?

The new Bere Valley After-School group has been granted £11,800 by Playlines. The group, run by Bere Valley Playgroup, will use a classroom at the village primary school to set up a new after-school club for four to eleven year olds.

The group committee hoped to have the club up and running from January 2004. It will be supported by registered leader Charlotte Hammond and a team of qualified staff.

The after-school club will build on the existing work provided by the village playgroup and will further the already strong links with the school.

Jacqui Weatherstone, playleader, said: ?This is what the children really need and deserve.?

Acting headteacher at Bere Alston Primary School Andrea Bradshaw said: ?We are very supportive of this and think it will be good for the children.

?It?s really nice to think the children are going to have this sort of thing provided for them. A lot of hard work goes into setting up these things and it?s fantastic they have been able to get funding.?

And Tavistock Community Pre-School group, which is based at the Alexander Centre in Plymouth Road, has been granted £6,400 to maintain and expand its lunch and after-school clubs.

Lisa Isaacs, chairman of the group, said: ?It?s great news, we?re very excited about it!?

Mrs Isaacs said the lunch club, aimed at pre-school children, and the after-school club which can cater for children up to the age of eight, were ideal for working mums and carers.

?The after-school club runs from 3pm until 6pm and we can actually offer a walking bus service from St Rumon?s School too,? said Mrs Isaacs.

She said the club offers plenty of activities for the children ? the funding has also enabled the group to buy a television and, provided there is sufficient demand for the club from older children, it intends to invest further in equipment such as a play station.

Anyone who would like more information about Tavistock Community Pre-School?s after-school club should contact Lisa Isaacs on 01822 615873.