THOUSANDS of pounds raised through a festival in a village near York has been handed to a range of organsations.

Organisers of last year’s Tockwith Festival have given grants totalling £6,510 to eight local groups and charities.

The money has helped purchase:

• Tents for 1st Marston Moor Scout Group

• An access ramp for Tockwith Church

• A new storage shed for the Tockwith Players

• iPads for children at the village primary school.

Grants have also funded leaflets to raise awareness of the Goosemoor Nature Reserve and leaflets for the local Patient Practice Group at Springbank Surgery, while the local village hall will use an award to develop the hall’s garden and Tockwith Juniors U19s Football Club will use its grant to purchase a new kit.

Team coach Alan Purves said: “This money makes such a difference to us and helps us continue to provide sport to this often neglected age group. It’s really appreciated.”

Festival trustee Arnold Warneken said the event, held each May and originally purely a beer festival in the village hall, was going from strength to strength.

“It is now held on Tockwith sports field, where the series of marquees feature two music stages, tea rooms, a large beer tent, kids’ craft workshops and, new for 2014, an acoustic stage,” he said.

“There is even the opportunity for new local talent to participate through the Chance To Shine competition, won last year by local teenage singer-songwriter Jamie Corbett.

“This competition had a fantastic reception last year and anyone who would like to enter for 2014 can find details on our website, although we will be announcing more details in the local press in the months to come.”

He said as the festival grew, trustees were looking to expand its support for local charities by looking further afield to other groups and charities in the area.