The National Lottery has revealed the 70 projects to have reached the semi-final stage of its sixth annual awards, designed to recognise the role that Lottery-funded schemes play in local communities.

A total of 10 projects have been named in seven categories - including sport, heritage, arts and the environment, and a public vote is already underway to discover which three will progress from each category to the final stage in August. The winning projects from each of the seven categories, which also include education, health and voluntary, will receive a £2,000 cash prize to go towards the scheme, as well as national recognition on a special BBC television show later this year.

Television and radio presenter, Jackie Brambles, said: "The National Lottery Awards recognise the amazing talent and hard work of the people involved in running Lottery-funded projects." Voting for the semi-finals closes on 10 July.