THE fund established 108 years ago in the will of Edward Stocks Massey will this year benefit 18 organisations and three individuals in a borough.

In 1910 he left £135,000 (more than £1million in today's money) to pay for education and the advancement of science and the arts for the inhabitants of Burnley.

Lancashire County Council's Cabinet has confirmed this years awards.

They include £8,635 for Burnley Music Centre; £4,865 for the county library service in the Burnley district; and £2,000 for theatre seat subsidies.

There are gifts of £1,470 to the Heritage and Woodland Festival at Towneley; £7,500 for improving pupil resilience and attainment; £1,000 for summer arts activities for Burnley children aged seven to 18; £3,330 to Evelyn De Morgan ; and £2,200 for Burnley Literary Festival 2018.

Other awards include £5,000 for Burnley Mechanics Theatre; £500 for The South Pennine Singers; £300 for Team Rise; £500 for Burnley Film Makers; £500 for Burnley Parish Church of St Peter; £1,500 for Mid Pennine Arts; £600 for Padiham Archive Group; £1,000 each for Burnley Youth Theatre, Burnley Municipal Choir and Burnley Orchestra; and grants of £740 and £360 for two individuals SW and CT.