COMMUNITY projects in the Richmondshire area have been awarded cash handouts of almost £35,000.

It takes the total ploughed back into local projects by the district council this year to £422,000 – and more than £1m since 2013.

In the latest round of funding, Melsonby Parish Council secured £16,410 to transform the village play park at Moor Road - a variety of new equipment will be installed including a carousel, grass mat surfacing and stabilisation mesh.

Colburn village hall received a loan of £11,859 towards the installation of solar panels on the village hall roof. It is hoped the cash - repayable after six years - will generate a reduction in energy costs making the hall more sustainable.

Smaller grants went to Colburn Allotment Association which received £4,140 to improve boundary fencing; Swaledale Festival which was given £1,300 towards re-branding; and Richmond Town Football Club under-9s received £660 towards new and improved equipment.

The latest awards from the Communities Opportunity Fund mean that 66 schemes have already been helped.

With £129,000 still to allocate before the end of March several of the 40 small and large scale projects in the pipeline will also receive cash.

For more information on the scheme contact Samantha Coultish on 01748-901037 or Samantha.Coultish@richmondshire.gov.uk