WEST Somerset children's charity CLOWNS has secured the future of its flagship project after hitting the jackpot with a lottery windfall.

The organisation, which supports families across the district, is celebrating a £189,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities Programme.

The cash award will keep CLOWNS' distinctive double decker playbus on the road for the next five years.

The charity runs a total of six projects, from summer play schemes and a toy library to a scrap store, physical family fun sessions and an outreach service offering family support.

But the playbus is recognised as its major resource, delivering early years education for children in rural and sometimes remote areas.

Often, it provides the only chance for youngsters to play, learn and share together, grow in confidence and be more ready for school.

CLOWNS co-ordinator Kathy Morton, who with her dedicated team of staff and trustees has endured a see-saw battle to secure funding for many years, said she was absolutely delighted with the success of the lottery bid.

And she admitted that she and the charity's chairman Jan Ross shed tears of joy when they received confirmation of the funding award: "It's great news," she said.

Match funding of £5,000 has come from West Somerset Council and Mrs Morton said without the authority's support, the application could have floundered.

The cash-strapped council had been on course to cut CLOWNS' annual funding by 75 per cent this year, which would have left it with a £7,000 shortfall.

But the charity won a stay of execution when the Government came up with an extra £87,000 pot of money for the council.

Mrs Morton said: "We were very worried when the council decided to cut grants to local voluntary groups in December but were so relieved when they used the additional Government money to continue to support these groups.

"Just £5,000 has helped lever in all this grant of £189,000 over the next five years."

The playbus visits different rural villages each week for two-hourly sessions during term time.

Activities offered include various crafts, singing and storytime and information about a range of services is also available for parents and cares.

The vehicle also provides the chance for families to meet informally with health visitors and other professionals, such as speech and language therapists.

The project aims to bring families together and support parents in understanding the vital role they play in their children's development.

It works with children aged up to 13, targeting single parents, adults struggling with being parents, families with disabled children and parents who have no extended family members to help with childcare and support.

But Mrs Morton was keen to point out that the grant aid could only be spent on the playbus and CLOWNS - which has been operating since 1995 - still needed to continue to raise funds for its other projects.

"We still need to raise money to be able to deliver our holiday play schemes, toy library, scrap store and fun days," she said.

"But local support has always been wonderful and we would be very grateful for donations to help these projects continue."

Families are pictured with the playbus celebrating the cash boost at a session in Carhampton.