FIVE community groups are celebrating after receiving a lottery cash boost.

Grants worth nearly £700,000 have been given to four organisations in Lewisham and one in Greenwich.

The two boroughs have now scooped nearly £6m from the Big Lottery Fund in the last three years.

The largest single grant goes to Voluntary Action Lewisham (VAL), who have been awarded £225,000, to be distributed over three years.

The money will be used to support its community accountancy advice service, which helps people in Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley and Southwark.

VAL director Martin Howie said: "We are delighted. It will enable us to go on running the project, hopefully for many years to come."

Other groups to benefit in Lewisham include volunteering group Rushey Green Timebank, which gets £148,293.

Carers Lewisham will receive £106,281, while mental health organisation Living Independence Network Community gets £176,854.

Greenwich's sole recipient is the Big Fish Theatre Company, Greenwich High Road, which receives £40,846.

The company provides drama workshops tackling issues such as sexual health and anti-social behaviour.