THE National Lottery has invested more than £79m in South Lakeland projects in the 20 years since the first draw on November 19, 1994.

Figures released by the organisation reveal that 1,259 grants have been awarded to individuals and organisations across the constituency over the past two decades.

The largest National Lottery grant in Westmorland and Lonsdale was £9.8m to the Windermere Steamboat Museum.

The smallest has been £441 to Kendal Natural History Society to purchase a portable wireless public address system for use in group meetings

The first National Lottery grant was £7,000 towards the Staveley Roundhouse extension

Other Lottery-funded projects in the area include Brewery Arts Centre, Grange-over-Sands Swimming pool and Westmorland Youth Orchestra.