South East towns awarded £20m neighbourhoods boost

Bexhill, Hastings, Eastbourne and Ramsgate are among the towns to receive funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Four towns in the South East have been included in a £1.5bn funding package, which the government hopes will "restore pride in neighbourhoods".

Bexhill, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ramsgate are set to receive up to £20m each over the next decade from the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods.

The money could be used for pavements repairs, high street regeneration, setting up community grocers and co-operatives or neighbourhood watches, the government said.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "For years, too many neighbourhoods have been starved of investment, despite their potential to thrive and grow."

In each area, the government will help establish a new Neighbourhood Board which comprises residents, local businesses and campaigners to develop plans on how to spend the funds.

The government said it will deliver "improved vital community services from education, health and employment and tackling crime".

Alex Norris, Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety, said: "When our local neighbourhoods thrive, the rest of the country thrives too."