The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has admitted the region is missing out on millions of pounds.

Now it is to change the way cash is allocated and bring in measures to help communities apply for grant aid.

To date more than 450 awards have been made to organisations in the region totalling more than £93m.

'Fair share'

A spokesman for the HLF said: "Communities across the North East are missing out on Lottery money and we are taking steps to put this right.

"We will be shortly announcing key changes in the way we hand out Lottery money.

"These new measures will ensure the region gets its fair share."

Richard Bailey, chairman of HLF's committee for the North East, will announce the changes at the North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish, near Durham on 3 October.

The spokesman added: "Our aim is for every community in the region to have an HLF project they can be proud of, large or small.

'Significant grant'

"We have, for example, recently awarded £3.8m towards the redesign of Sunderland's Winter Gardens and also a grant of £17,000 meant that the ancient Ragpath Wood in County Durham could be restored for local people to enjoy.

"Beamish Museum benefited from £1.2m in grants that have helped them better display their collections and improve storage.

"On 3 October we will also be announcing a significant grant for Gateshead.

"The changes we are making will support HLF's aim to help communities identify, look after and celebrate their heritage."