VILLAGERS at Burley-in-Wharfedale have struck the jackpot in the second round of spending from Ilkley Parish Council's precept rate.

The parish council announced its latest round of grants to voluntary organisations this week - with the largest grant of £5,500 handed out to a theatre group at Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Ben Rhydding Pre-School Playgroup and Friends of the King's Hall have also been awarded grants of £2,000 or more, with other large awards going to Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society, Ilkley Cricket Club, and Ashlands Primary School.

The announcement marks just the second round of awards since the precept was introduced this financial year. Residents of Burley and Menston had earlier voiced concern that much of the precept - paid by households across the parish - would be spent on Ilkley, although parish councillors invited villagers to apply for money.

The £5,500 award is the first Burley application to see success.

Vice chairman of Burley Millennium Theatre Group, Digby Singleton, said the money would go towards a portable lighting system, which could be used by any group in the village for stage productions.

He said: "When we do a show we have to hire it, and it can be very expensive. This is going to be very useful for us. It will be available for anybody in Burley. It's very good news."

The Millennium Theatre Group puts on a number of productions in the village each year.

Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Mike Gibbons, said the theatre group had produced an 'excellent' application, and encouraged more Burley and Menston people to apply for grants, as well as Ilkley groups which are working on capital projects.

"I would simply encourage these people who have capital projects in mind to request an application form from the town hall and to let us know. We will endeavour to cover as many applications as is possible," he said.

A grant of £2,100 is to go to the Friends of the King's Hall, in Ilkley, and will buy a dishwasher for use in the at the King's Hall. Coun Gibbons said the dishwasher would improve kitchen facilities for special functions at the venue.

Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society will receive a £1,000 grant towards urgent repainting work and the replacement of a name board at the Operatic House, on Leeds Road. The society is working on improvements to the Grade II listed building.

Chairman of Ben Rhydding Pre-School Playgroup, Karen Oxtoby, said the group was 'over the moon' to learn it was to be awarded £2,000 by the parish council. The playgroup is based at Ben Rhydding Primary School.

The money is to go towards facilities for the benefit of more than 40 youngsters who visit the playgroup.

Ashlands Primary School learned it had gained £1,500 of parish council funding towards a storage area and equipment for children at the school's new Foundation Stage Unit, which will house reception age schoolchildren, but will also be the home for a nursery which will start in January.

Head teacher, Jenni McDonough, said: "We're extremely pleased, it's a much-needed boost."

She said parents could now apply for a place at the new nursery - which would be open to any youngsters from around the Ilkley area - by asking her for an application form.

The parish council agreed to grant £1,000 to Ilkley Cricket Club, to enable the club to buy a new heavy-duty roller and a bowling machine.

The parish council also agreed to give £308 to the Second Ilkley Guide Company, to buy portable gas cookers for the Guides to use on camping trips, and grant £400 to community group Menston Cares, a volunteer group which helps local people who are disadvantaged by illness, disability, social isolation, or the sole responsibility as a carer for another person.

Grant applications from Menston's Hengist Users Group - for facilities at meeting rooms -and from Menston Methodist Church for £101, were turned down by the awards committee, which said they did not fit the criteria for a grant

The parish council's awards committee is asking Menston Jubilee Show to produce receipts for Jubilee celebrations over the summer, which it might consider for funding from another pot. The show asked for £200.