More than £35,000 has been awarded to two South Lanarkshire organisations from the Whitelees Renewable Energy Fund.

The REF was set up in June 2007 by the council and is funded by payments from Scottish Power, which operates the windfarm.

The council is responsible for advising potential applicants, assessing applications and monitoring projects to ensure the community benefits associated with each project are delivered.

Strathaven Tennis Club is the latest local group to benefit from the fund with an award of £15,163.

The money will go towards upgrading the red blaes tennis courts to an all-weather synthetic surface at Strathaven Park which has been the club's home since 1997.

There is also the possibility of one court being used for general all purpose play for other sports such as basketball, football or hockey. The club will continue to have the use of two courts with the remaining courts available for pay and play.

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It is anticipated that when complete, the facility will be managed on an ongoing basis by South Lanarkshire Leisure.

The other group to secure funding recently is Adam's Community Trust (ACT), which was established in 2007 following the death of Adam Law, a much respected local citizen who tirelessly supported local charitable causes, particularly those concerning children.

In honour of Adam's memory, ACT raises money to benefit the community of Strathaven and the surrounding district and support local projects which set out to improve the area.

ACT has been awarded £20,000 towards upgrading and refurbishing an existing play area in Strathaven Public Park. The money will go towards replacing old play equipment and installing a new safe play surface.

The project and running of the new area will be managed by the council's Community Resources.

Councillor Chris Thompson, the chair of the council's Enterprise Resources Committee, said: "It's always great to see local groups and organisations benefiting from the Renewable Energy Fund.

"Both groups have come up with schemes that will have a huge, positive impact on the local community."

(GK/JM)