Tradesmen have been sent out to fix leaky taps and mend broken tables as well as take on larger improvement projects as part of the Evening Post's Charity Begins at Homeserve competition.

The top prize winner, the Vernon Carus Sports Club in Penwortham, received a grant of £5,000 plus labour to replace a heating system which has been broken since February and to redecorate the premises.
Committee member Andrew Tate, who has been involved in planning the work, said he was "shocked but delighted" when he found out they had won.

Three other runner-up organisations which received grants of £500 each were Galloways Society for the Blind, Preston Rosettes and The Women's Centre in Blackburn.

All entries were submitted to the Lancashire Evening Post, and we printed a round up of each group's project requirements before readers voted for their favourite cause.

As well as the main group winners, a parallel competition was run to give individuals the chance of getting their home maintenance problems fixed. One such winner was 78-year-old Marjorie Cowell of New Longton. She received an electrician who fixed her washing machine and freezer.
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Mrs Cowell said: "I saw the Homeserve tin hat man on the competition advert and I thought I could just make use of him.

"And the electrician was brilliant... I have kept his number so I can use him again".

Other individual winners were Sarah Flanagan of Fulwood, Janet Rishton and Joann Judd, both of Penwortham.

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