THREE centuries in the life of a village are to be made accessible at the touch of a button, after a local history group struck lucky on the lottery.

Bishopthorpe Local History Group has been awarded £5,000 to purchase computer equipment and software for creating a community archive.

Local library users will be able to examine visual records and oral accounts dating back to the eighteenth century, and store them on disk for reference.

Group treasurer Liam Godfrey, 36, of Acaster Lane, hopes the project will encourage villagers to take a greater interest in their heritage.

"The archetypal comment from older people is 'Oh, I don't like computers,' but here they will be able to see them in use," he said.

The group is appealing to anyone who can help with its project to donate materials relating to Bishopthorpe's past.

Awards For All has donated more than £80,000 to local groups in the region, enabling them to improve communities through sport, arts, heritage or community activities.

Paula Ritchie, senior awards officer, said: "Awards For All continues to make a real difference to communities across the region. There is so much positive community activity taking place and Awards For All is once again proud to give its support."

Other groups to benefit are:

Yorkshire Wildlife Watch, £5,000 for environmental events. York Multi-Cultural Maths Association, £4,500 for language packs and a multi-cultural maths exhibition. University of York Cinematography Society, £4,035 for a video editing and music production suite. Real People Theatre Company, £3,000 to fund production. Dunnington Parish Council, £2,500 for a small field centre. St Lawrence's Breakfast Club, £500 to advertise for, and train, qualified childcare workers and purchase play equipment. Nordic Divers British Sub-Aqua club, £662 for coaches, equipment and taster sessions. Ivy Workshops Limited, £3,785 for therapeutic equipment. Alne Parish Millennium Project, £3,200 for a mosaic. Nether Silton Village Hall Committee, £3,131 for a new roof. Thirsk Hockey Club, £1,870 for equipment, training and organisation of new tournament. Struton Millennium Book Association, £1,083 for a book about the parish and community. Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club, £2,262 for nets.

Helmsley Community Primary School Table Tennis Club, £4,978 for equipment. Ryedale School, £4,500 for basketball facilities.

Holy Family Catholic High School, £4,500 for a week-long visit by a West African music and dance company. Whistle Stop Out Of School Club, £3,597 for sports equipment and computers. South Milford Community Primary School, £1,386 for football coaches and a training venue. Bridlington-Millau Petanque Club, £5,000 for new pitches and equipment. Pocklington RUFC Youth Section, £5,000 for roadshows and festivals. Bubwith Youth Club, £4,944 for an internet caf. Goole RUFC Junior/Mini Section, £3,480 for training, equipment and transport. Wetwang Bowls Club, £2,651 for a new junior section. Bridlington Pensioners' Action Group, £2,050 for outings.

Updated: 10:50 Saturday, April 14, 2001