A MONTHLY lottery, launched to help fund community projects in Chepstow’s Garden City, has announced its first winner.

Alison Colebrook won £45 on the lottery, which is run by a team of volunteers and sees 75 per cent of the takings awarded as prize money and 25 per cent used to fund local activities.

Organised by the Garden City Community Group, the novel new funding stream will help to raise cash for fun days and children’s entertainment at Easter, Christmas and Halloween, as well as the development of larger projects. The next project, for which plans are already well under way, is a sensory garden in the playing field area at Garden City.

Lissett Burrett, secretary of the community group, said: “Participants pay £1 a month.

“We draw the winner every month at our community meetings, and pay the winner. The rest of the cash goes into our community projects. It’s a great way for people to help a good cause and at the same time have a chance of winning enough to treat themselves.”

 Anyone can join in the lottery, but the community group would particularly like to encourage more Garden City residents and local businesses to take part.

For more information email [email protected].