A former Methodist chapel in Lincolnshire is set to be turned into a new arts and heritage centre after the scheme was one of six to be awarded Lottery funding.

Nearly £434,000 will be invested in the project through the Village SOS initiative, which was launched by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and the BBC to help revitalise village communities across the UK. Housed within the revamped chapel, the Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre will include space for local artists to make, sell and exhibit their work, a café and artefacts relating to the village's history.

Roy Schofield, a spokesperson for the scheme, said: "Everyone is elated to hear the wonderful news of funding for our project - it means a great deal to the village of Caistor." Taste Tideswell in Derbyshire; Barge Inn in Wiltshire; Talgarth Mill, Powys; Future Newstead in Nottinghamshire; and West Wemyss, Fife are the other projects to receive funding through the initiative.

BIG chair Sir Clive Booth said: "The Village SOS funding announced will empower these villages to help secure the future of their communities and protect them from decline and the loss of local amenities."