Life really is a lottery, it seems - at least when it comes to handing out precious National Lottery cash.

A new survey reveals that Londoners are receiving more than twice as much cash in the form of lottery grants as people living in the North.

People in Yorkshire and Humberside are getting an average £70 per head in grants, compared to an average £170 for Londoners, the Lottery Monitor says.

The survey has sparked anger among local people in York, who have branded the figures "a joke" and "appalling".

Richard Todd, 26, of Acomb, said: "It's just a joke. Everything seems to go to those in the South. Why? I don't think it's on at all."

Tracy Thorpe, 24, of Burnholme, said: "There are a lot of needy causes in the North and they should be concentrated on. Ploughing more money into creating more activities for children in this area should be a priority."

Andrew Collins, 51, of Fulford, added: "The amount of money the South receives is appalling when you look at what could be done up here. Children and elderly people should be a priority here."

The survey also revealed that nearly 200 council areas throughout the country received less than 10 awards each in 1998.

Yorkshire and Humberside was the fourth lowest in a table showing how much cash 11 regions in the country had received during last year. East Midlands was the lowest with an average of £52.96 per head in grants, compared to London's £172.88 per head.

The survey, which examined the local impact of the lottery in 1998, found that London had received 12 per cent more cash than its population share.

Generally, it was found that the number of awards and their amounts declined last year when it fell to £871 million, compared to the previous year's £1.7 billion, distributed by the 11 lottery boards during 1997.

A spokesperson for the Lottery Monitor said: "The lottery boards have had to take on a lot of changes since the change of Government. This seemed to cause some to slow down and hold on to the cash received from the lottery.

"The good news is that this will inevitably mean that this year will be a bumper year for cash distribution."

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