Rural communities awarded cash help

The council said some projects would not have seen the "light of day" without the money.

Communities and businesses in Kent's countryside have received financial support from a council.

A new village hall, expanded broadband coverage, and solar panels were among the projects awarded cash by Folkestone & Hythe District Council.

The local authority said it gave £362,868 to 22 schemes during the last 12 months in an effort to "strengthen and improve" the district's rural areas.

"The rural community has perhaps felt forgotten in the past but this funding has gone some way to address that," said Rich Holgate, cabinet member for the district economy.

The money had enabled schemes that "otherwise may never have seen the light of day" to go ahead, he added.

The council listed some of the projects that had received funding, including:

• An eco-friendly waste food-oil system for a Hythe brewing company

• A cycle shelter at Elham Village Hall

• The first two phases of a 3G football pitch at The Marsh Academy in New Romney

• A workshop to help a natural-based skincare products business in Stowting

• A new village hall in St Mary in the Marsh

• An expansion of the 5G wireless broadband network on Romney Marsh

Other organisations, including village halls, a community hub and sports facilities, have used the funding to install solar panels.

The cash came from central government and was distributed to local authorities across the country.

The fund has now closed.