A web project which helps tens of thousands of people with sight or hearing problems has been recognised at a national award ceremony.

Carshalton-based yourlocalcinema.com became the runner-up in the Best Arts Project category at the National Lottery Awards final, broadcast live on BBC One.

Father and son managers Derek Brandon and Dean Rhodes-Brandon, 18, went on the television show hosted by Myleene Klass and Nick Knowles to find out their fate last Saturday.

Mr Brandon said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been named as a runner-up in the National Lottery Awards. We beat hundreds of other projects from all over the UK to get to this stage and it has been the most tremendous experience.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the public and I'd like to thank everyone who has given us their vote.

“Yourlocalcinema.com has benefited greatly from lottery funding and the awards have been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all the hard work that goes into making our project a success.”

Gareth Gates, National Lottery Awards presenter, said: “It has been an honour to meet all the fantastic staff and volunteers who run this brilliant project and to have the chance to find out more about it. It really is a wonderful example of how lottery funding has made a real difference to the local community and beyond.”

Yourlocalcinema.com lists thousands of subtitled and audio-described films each week, at more than 300 cinemas across the UK, allowing people with sight or hearing problems to find suitable screenings. It also runs a 24-hour information line.

Mr Rhodes-Brandon, who is deaf, founded the business in 2001 while still at school. Lottery funding has helped him and his father keep the service running and growing, and 60,000 people are now signed up to receive the weekly e-newsletter.

Since the National Lottery began in November 1994, more than £23billion has been raised for projects like the website, with over 325,000 grants given out across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.