More than £70,000 has been given out to charities, voluntary groups, schools and other organisations in Trowbridge.

The Trowbridge Area Board has spent its £73,000 budget on good causes in the town, described as an 'unprecedented investment' in the area by its chairman.

Among the initiatives that received grant funding last week were Wiltshire Youth for Christ (£2,500), Wiltshire Rural Music (£495), Studley Green Community Association (£8,465.29), North Bradley Peace Memorial Trust (£2,700), Trowbridge Environmental Community organisation (£1,586), Lions Club of Trowbridge (£1,760), and Biss Meadows Country Park (£5669.54).

Cllr Antonio Piazza said distributing the funds gave him great joy and believed it has made a difference.

“Of course, this achievement was only made possible through the diligent collaboration between our dedicated officers who work extremely hard and unsociable hours to join me in meeting these groups and ensuring the administration processes of these grants is completed," he said.

“I should also thank the applicants, all of those charities, who do so much for us in the Trowbridge community, providing support to the vulnerable and ensuring that the quality of life in our town remains high.”