A MUSIC festival and a life-saving initiative were among projects awarded £628,000 by the National Lottery in Monmouthshire last year.

Monmouth Music Festival will be celebrating its 35th year this summer after being boosted by a £5,000 grant.

Billed as one of the biggest free festivals in Europe, the annual nine-day event has attracted the likes of The Drifters, Mungo Jerry, The Troggs, The Wurzels, Kast off Kinks, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and Dr and The Medics over the years.

And the cash has helped organisers expand the event, which this year runs from July 28 to August 5, by increasing the number of volunteers, performers and workshops.

Caldicot Town Council were also given £4,500 to site five lifesaving defibrillators in the community.

A decision on where to locate them is expected at tonight’s (Wednesday, February 22) council meeting.

A total of 49 National Lottery grants were given out in Monmouthshire during 2016, boosting arts, sports and heritage projects, alongside community groups helping those in need.

Any organisation that has received National Lottery funding can now enter the National Lottery Awards 2017, to honour the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

National Lottery Awards winners will receive a £3,000 cash prize and national recognition at

a glittering ceremony broadcast on BBC One later in the year.