The first draw for the Lucky Severn Community Lottery takes place on March 20, and there's still time to buy a ticket and win a prize.

Players have a one in 50 chance of winning a prize, which include a £25,000 jackpot, cash prizes or extra tickets. And for the first draw two players are guaranteed to win an iPad Air.

Tickets for the lottery have been selling fast since they went live on February 16. So far 656 players have bought tickets which will raise more than £39,000 a year for charities and community groups in the Stroud district.

There are currently 54 good causes to support. Players can choose from a wide range of community groups, including Stroud Women's Refuge, Sunflowers Suicide Support, GL11 Community Hub and Help a Hedgehog Hospital.

Aimee-Louise Malcolm, fundraiser-ambassador at the Cotswold Canals Trust which has signed up as a good cause said: "Stroud District's diverse charitable sector has been hard hit by Covid-19. The Lucky Severn Community Lottery has been so easy for us to promote to our members and supporters and has guaranteed significant income for our charity as we recover from the pandemic.

"We are very grateful to our friends at Stroud District Council for everything they have done in support of the canal restoration and this has been the cherry on the cake! May I wish every Lucky Severn player the best of luck for this weekend's draw!"

Stroud District Council leader Doina Cornell, said: "The Lucky Severn Community Lottery is a great opportunity to raise money for charities and good causes that are important to us, whilst being in with the chance of winning a variety of great prizes.

"Now more than ever it is so important that we give back to charities that have gone the extra mile or struggled due to Covid-19. I would like to thank everyone who has signed up to play and I hope to see many more good causes and players get involved."

If you represent a community group, you can apply at any time to join Lucky Severn. It's free to register and participants will receive personalised marketing materials and support, a page on the Lucky Severn Community Lottery website, and 50p of every £1 their supporters spend. A further 10p will go to a fund supporting other good causes in the district.

To buy your tickets or register as a good cause visit: https://www.luckysevernlottery.co.uk/.