IT COULD be you - and if you live in Harrogate, it certainly is.

The prosperous Harrogate district is said to be one of the biggest lottery winners in the country after receiving more than £9 million in grants towards good causes.

The money, equivalent to £80 a resident, has helped fund arts, sports and heritage projects across the district, with more than £5 million going to sport alone.

Big sporting grants have included £3.5 million towards a new swimming pool in Harrogate and more than £400,000 to Ripon Tennis Club to help it build new indoor and outdoor courts and a clubhouse.

But charities have also received more than £1 million, with winners including Horticap, a charity providing horticultural employment to handicapped people (£99,000) and Harrogate and District Women's Aid, towards the construction of a women's refuge (£217,000).

Andrew Hailwood, of Harrogate Borough Council, says the district has succeeded as well as the best authorities across the country in winning grants.

The district has certainly succeeded in winning more than a million pounds more in grants than the City of York Council area, according to latest figures.

Councillor Pat Marsh, chairman of Harrogate Borough Council leisure and amenity services committee, said the district's success was based on an active and positive approach to National Lottery opportunities.

"As a result it has secured significant funding for projects in the district for either council, private or joint ventures," she said.

"This has had a major impact on the provision of facilities and services in the district."

The council's commitment to assisting groups to secure external funding was shown by the appointment of a voluntary sector liaison officer, she said.

Now councillors in Harrogate are preparing to take advantage of a sixth good cause - the New Opportunities Fund. This will fund health, education and environmental projects.

Under NOF, Harrogate has decided to focus on projects on play development and health promotion and fitness.

* A separate breakdown of the amounts going to Parliamentary constituencies shows York getting grants worth £5,487,000, Vale of York receiving £2,952,000 and Ryedale winning £2,272,000.

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