A vital Dorset service is celebrating after receiving more than a quarter of a million pounds in Lottery funding.

Andy Price, founder and director of the Veterans Hub on Portland Road, Weymouth, revealed to the Echo previously that the service was ‘living month to month’ and he feared that they may have had to make the heart-breaking decision to close for good.

However, ahead of the hub’s sixth birthday, further celebrations are in order as they have just been awarded a ‘mind-blowing’ £269,307 from the National Lottery.

READ MORE: Fears that Veterans Hub could have to close

Mr Price said: “This is more than brilliant; everyone knows that we have been struggling. We had a lot of hurdles to jump but we made it.

“This is just absolutely incredible, it doesn’t mean that we are able to stop fundraising as we need to keep our services accessible and free, but it has given us some much-needed breathing space as we thought we were going to close.

“The news means that we can keep on making a difference within the local community and keep on doing what we do best.

“If we hadn’t received this then there was the possibility that we would have had to shut our doors.”

The money was awarded as part of a larger £203 million in vital funding to almost 4,000 community groups across England in the last quarter.

Mr Price added: " Our project exists because of the amazing community that we are embedded within and without them we would not be here.

"We are incredibly passionate about everything that we do, especially when it comes to supporting our veteran’s community, and the difference that this team makes is immeasurable.

"All the services that we offer are free to access for veterans, those still serving, and their families, something that is only possible because of charitable donations, grants, and some incredible fundraisers by our supporters.

“That does mean though that at times, as an organization, we operate from month to month, which at times has put the future of our project at risk, something that would be hugely detrimental for those that rely upon the hub for support, and the wider community.“