MORE money will go into the community pot from the EX20 Lottery when the town takes over the administration on January 8.
The lottery, which was started 15 months ago by Okehampton Mayor Christine Marsh, has so far ploughed nearly £15,000 into community projects and a similar amount into the pockets of prize winners.
Twelve per cent of the takings have previously been spent on administration which has been handled by Total Care Lottery of Broadclyst, but the intention has always been to administer the lottery from Okehampton once it was up and running.
Cllr Marsh said the admin costs would go down dramatically once she had the technology in place to run the lottery which meant a computer and software.
'For starters we will not have the licence fee which is £20 a week,' she said. 'We need to find £1,700 to get the equipment and I am looking for further donations.
So far three local companies have either made a donation or indicated financial support and a person has come forward to volunteer their services.
With the EX20 lottery office at the Town Hall, Cllr Marsh hopes it will give the lottery a bigger profile.
At the moment just under 500 people play the lottery, which benefits the whole of the EX20 area, but the mayor wants to see that figure double.
'We did have 800 members on the system but quite a lot have not renewed their membership,' she said. 'Rather than people just receiving an anonymous letter asking them to renew their membership I hope to see them all on a personal basis.
Many community groups and organisations such as the guides, scouts and playgroups and the New Okehampton Hospital Appeal have received cash from the EX20 Lottery and anyone with a good project is invited to write to Christine Marsh at the Town Hall, Okehampton to ask for a grant.
The latest winners of the EX20 Lottery are as follows: December 4 draw — W J Hawkins, Tors Road, Okehampton (£88.60); E W Southcott, Mill Road, Okehampton (£44.30); Mr Scantlebury, 34 Wonnacotts Road, Okehampton (£11.08); Toby Wheddon, St James Street, Okehampton (£11.08). December 12 (bonus) draw — Sue Powne, Lydford (£68); Jo Harrison, Fern Close, Okehampton (£34); Mrs E Carpenter, Lydford (£8.50; R C Symons, Exeter Road, Okehampton (£8.50).
December 18 draw — D Allin, Kempley Road, Okehampton (£88.60), Mrs C Screech , Abbey Rise, Okehampton (£44.30), Mr and Mrs Coyte, East Street, Okehampton (£11.08), Bob Gee, West Street, Okehampton (£11.08).