BOLTON Women's Aid has received a donation of nearly £7,000 to buy new office furniture.

The charity is one of 100 North-west organisations who will benefit from a £779,000 donation by Lloyds TSB Foundation. The first round of grants also saw Bury Racial Equality Council given £7,000 to run their development project.

Regional manager David Kay said: "This is our first round of donations in 2003 which will support charities working at a grass roots level to improve the lives of people in local communities."

Our local presence means we can ensure that funding is reaching areas of great social need."