ORGANISERS of a council-run lottery have shown their romantic side by putting up a special prize ahead of Valentine's Day.

Everyone who buys a Somerset West Community Lottery ticket this month will be entered into a bonus prize draw for two tickets on the West Somerset Railway's Dunster Castle Express.

The draw for the heritage railway-sponsored prize, which must be taken any time between April and October this year, will be made on Saturday, February 10.

The community lottery, run on behalf of Taunton Deane Borough and West Somerset Councils, is now ready to start awarding grants to local good causes through the Somerset Community Foundation.

More than £4,000 is available in each of the council areas.

Applications are open to voluntary and community groups, with a maximum grant of £1,000 - for more information click here.

Players have a 50 to one chance of winning one of the prizes, which range from the £25,000 jackpot to three extra tickets.

From each £1 ticket, 60p goes to local good causes, 20p goes to the prize fund, and the balance meets running costs and VAT.