THERE were celebrations today as a series of community groups won funding to improve their towns and villages.Seven projects in east Suffolk were selected for funding under the government's Living Spaces initiative and have won a share in £130,000 which will be ploughed into the area.

THERE were celebrations today as a series of community groups won funding to improve their towns and villages.

Seven projects in east Suffolk were selected for funding under the government's Living Spaces initiative and have won a share in £130,000 which will be ploughed into the area.

The scheme, which is funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, helps groups transform neglected land into a community asset.

As a result of the latest funding allocations more than £23,000 will now be spent on a children's play scheme by the Grundisburgh playing field management committee while £25,000 was secured by the Great Blakenham playground action group for new playground facilities in the village.

Another £20,000 was secured for a play project at Playford village hall while £19,837 has been allocated to a doorstep green project at Hacheston village hall.

Another £22,000 will be spent on a playpark at Stowupland village hall while £15,500 will be used by the Mid Suffolk Voluntary Organisations Forum on a garden project.

A bid by the Bedfield and Monk Soham sports club for funding has seen the group awarded £4,637 for improvements to Hungers Green.

Nationwide 600 living spaces projects have been completed since the scheme began, with the equivalent of two community gardens a week and two skate parks a months, being created or improved across the country this year.

Baroness Andrews, minister for green spaces, said: “It has been another successful year for Living Spaces, with £1,097, 606 being awarded to community groups in the East of England to transform public spaces.

“The pace of change nationwide has been impressive with the equivalent of one project a day being completed, showing just how effective local action is in driving forward change.

“Whether it's cleaning up a polluted duck pond or rejuvenating a disused green space on a housing estate, Living Spaces is making a real difference to the local environment and people's quality of life.

“At the same time it is encouraging people to take pride in where they live, helping to create a sustainable future for all.”