SO many community groups wanted a share of the Chronicle's great cash give-away that the amount on offer was doubled.

We teamed up with the South Yorkshire Community Foundation to give voluntary groups a share of £25,000.

But after the overwhelming response - with more than 100 applications - the foundation decided to up the ante and doubled the stake.

That meant scores of clubs and organisations across the town could benefit from a cash boost to be spent on community events.

A grants panel met at the Chronicle on Tuesday to discuss the pile of applications and approved £46,592 of funding - an average of £589 per group.

Karen Alsop, SYCF fund manager, said: "The initial competition was for £25,000 but given the success we can effectively double the money."

Groups were judged on the impact they would have in the community. Those which cashed in included, luncheon clubs, sports clubs, village hall committees, brass bands and charities like Barnsley Samaritans.

The list of winners is in today's Chronicle but we broke the news to some earlier this week. And the groups were delighted and typical of the comments were those from David Cole, fund-raising co-ordinator of the Wombwell High Street Committee, which received £600 for hanging baskets.

He said: "It is brilliant - thank you to the Chronicle for making it easier to get money in to the community and making people more aware there is funding out there.

"It is important that we take pride in the appearance of our High Street."