PEOPLE in Teesdale are being offered support from their local authority in securing more funding to improve facilities in their community.

Residents of what the European funding bodies have classed as "targeted wards" are eligible for help from their council with claiming grants.

Community appraisals have been carried out in ten wards in the dale to help them submit applications for European funding to improve facilities.

The ten community appraisals will be available soon on the Teesdale District Council website under "council information".

They contain facts and figures, statistics and comments gathered last year.

Copies are also available at many of the village shops and community buildings in the wards, and from Ann Johnstone, the council's regeneration officer.

Any community group or individual developing a community project can take advantage of the help, which the council is confident will help to strengthen applications.

Ms Johnstone said: "People are welcome to use quotes and extracts. They can use any of the evidence that could add persuasive power to meetings or to applications for funding or to requests for support."

The community appraisals were drawn up by Durham Rural Community Council, working with Teesdale District Council and were partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

For details of the scheme visit www.teesdale.gov.uk or contact Ms Johnstone on (01833) 696217.