ROYLE Family star Ralf Little was at Central Library to present the Cultural Hubs team with their National Lottery Awards trophy.

The project had beaten off stiff competition from more than 600 other projects within the Arts category to reach the The National Lottery Awards finals.

And it won the public vote receiving more than 2,000 to be named Best Arts project in The National Lottery Awards. As well as receiving their trophy from Ralf, Cultural Hubs win a £3,000 cash prize and their work will be celebrated at a star-studded awards ceremony on BBC One on 12 September.

Cultural Hubs has used £249,600 of National Lottery funding to run a series of popular arts, music and drama workshops in libraries for more than 4,000 people across St Helens.

After presenting the award, the Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps actor said: "Libraries when I was a child used to be quiet spaces and people would get shushed.

"But to have something like this, a space for someone to do break dancing or stand up comedy or whatever, is so important for the community.

"It's not unlike the thing that got me started in the arts in Bury. When I was 12 or 13 a lady decided she wanted to set up a thing for children in the local library and if that hadn't happened I literally wouldn't be doing the job I do.

"It's important to take part in art and creativity and you can see the results. I think it's an amazing reflection on St Helens that this exists and is amazing for the community."

Sue Williamson, head of St Helens library services, added: “We are delighted to have been voted the UK’s Best Arts project in The National Lottery Awards. The fact that the results are decided by the British public makes our success even more special. It shows the impact that the arts can have on people’s sense of wellbeing and how much participants in our project value their involvement.”

As well as receiving their trophy from Ralf, Cultural Hubs win a £3,000 cash prize and their work will be celebrated at a star-studded awards ceremony on BBC One on September 12.